Edgar Gabriel's StringFusion - Not Radio Material

Edgar Gabriel's StringFusion - Blue 7 Edgar Gabriel's Stringfusion Tour Dates 05/21/08 Loyola Academy Wilmette 06/04/08 Plum Grove Rolling Meadws, IL 06/13/08 Alexian Field Schaumburg 06/21/08 Custer Street Fair Evanston, IL 08/10/08 Performing Arts Center, IL 08/18/08 Lake Park Milwaukee, WI 09/13/08 Harper College Palatine, IL

Their album name, Not Radio Material, couldn't be more approriate. Edward Gabriel's StringFusion music is a very interesting (and rare) blend of classical instrumentals, primarily violin string arrangements, blended with mellow light jazz piano and saxophone riffs.

A sultry vocal is offered on track three, "Would You Be My Valentine" along with a very smooth keyboard solo. The percussion driven samba of track 4, "Mobile", suggests more Latin swing influences, very contemporary and cool. The saxophone on track 5, "I Knew That" really soars to some impressive heights. Down and dirty blues guitar can be heard on the urban slynish of track 6, "Blue 7", probably my favorite composition on this CD.

The fusion of all the musical elements of this band maybe best on display on track 8's "Train Blues". You get the feeling this song was born out of frustration of dealing with Chicago's L-Train, the north Chicago area apparently being this band's home origins.

It's very difficult to put any exacting tag on what this band's sound really, all I know is it makes for some very nice/late night mellow down easy music, a real treat for any jazz enthusiasts.

Links: edgargabriel.com myspace.com