Electric Violin World Jazz: The Guarneri Underground

Reviews of Wander This World

David Liss, New Age Voice magazine:
This is one of the most eclectic world music ensembles I've heard in a while, not just in terms of instrumentation, but stylistically as well. Guarneri Underground runs the gamut from Celtic to Middle Eastern to African to Classic Rock without missing a beat. They perform well in each vein, with songs like "Liquid Silver" and "Wander This World" for example, sounding like a tight Celtic band. Yet on a cut like "Tarot" you get the full-bodied feel of the old time talking blues. "Pami Music" has the sound and feel of Afropop down to a fine groove, with African percussion joined to Ghanian native Mohammad Shaibu's funky guitar riffs. And when they get to "Om Asatoma Sad Gamaya" they bring on the sound of traditional Indian music. Singer Beth Quist, who also performs and records with Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra, has such a good feel for the music that she can segue from one style of singing to another and make two things of a very different palette, Irish and Indian, both sound tasty and heartfelt.

As the title suggests, the band is taking us on a sonic tour of the world, and they cap the tour with a very unorthodox choice, a remake of Led Zeppelin's mystical msterpiece, "Kashmir." It's not really that strange a choice, though, when you listen to the whole mix closely. Leader, producer, and violinist Jeffrey Sick reveals roots that span from world music to blues and rock, and even classical harmony, and his arrangements do a compelling job of bringing it all together.

Guarneri Underground is named for a famed Italian violin maker who crafted masterful instruments with little regard for convention, using whatever materials he could find to make his instruments better, including wood scavenged from demolition sites. Like their namesake, the Guarneri Underground fearlessly brings together these wildly varied and brilliant bits into a festive, ecstatic whole.

Reviews of Captive

John Diliberto, Billboard Magazine:
CRITICS CHOICE 12/16/00. In the '70s and '80s, Shadowfax forged a union between fusion and world music. Now the Guarneri Underground is picking up that cue. Led by the twin violins of Jeffrey Sick and John Schussler, the Guarneri Underground changes clothes at a global bazaar, donning Middle Eastern dumbeks and African cross-picked guitar on "Big Island," and the Australian didjeridu and African talking drums on the hypnotic "Bloodmoon." In addition to his violin, Schussler doubles on bouzouki, guitars, flute, and all kinds of African-Asian percussion. Not all the Underground's songs are an ethnic stew, however. "Mango Twister" is a gentle ballad, while "Assisi" gets into a cyclical groove that recalls Jean-Luc Ponty. The Underground's fusion roots are readily apparent when bandmates crank up the wah-wah pedal on "Bathers At Asnieres" and "Captive," conjuring images of Ponty, Jerry Goodman, and the best from fusion's halcyon days.

Seattle Weekly's Best of Seattle 2001
The Guarneri Underground was voted one of the best new bands in Seattle by the readers of Seattle Weekly.

Seattle Area Musical Innovation and Excellence Awards (SAMIE)
Captive was voted one of the top 5 albums of the year (contemporary instrumental album/electric) by readers of Sounds of Seattle magazine, and nominated for a 2000 SAMIE award in the Best contemporary instrumental album/electric category.

Reviews of New World

Matt Rosenberg, Seattle Magazine:
"What's drawing him, as well as a loyal following of music lovers from the over-30 set? The Guarneri Underground, a group that just might be the best band you never heard of. ... The exquisitely tailored recordings on New World reflect global influences and are as likely to delight your uber-hip Belltown friends as your Aunt Helen from Schenectady."

Paige La Grone, Amazon.com:
"In recent years violins have become hot in the hands of Natalie MacMaster, Alison Krauss, and legions of alternative country bands like Whiskeytown and Wilco, but the Guarneri Underground take the fiddle into a whole new arena. With New World, the Seattle duo of electric violinist Jeffrey Sick and multi-instrumentalist John Schussler make a compelling offering of modern jazz, blues, world, and New Age music. Where contemporaries suffer from trying to do too much at once, the Underground is largely successful. Dueling five- and six-string fiddles benefit from the additions of an eclectically beefy rhythm section, pedal steel, woodwinds, piano, and an array of percussive instruments. As a result, these original melodies rely on texture and form rather than merely a pretty tone. Courageous, efficient, and smart, New World is indicative of what's right with contemporary instrumental music."

Gary Bannister, 5/4 Magazine:
"Much more than an exposition of the violin, the Guarneri Underground is a world's fair of music that tantalizes with its sounds, sights, and smells. This group is a native market in a big city, a bazaar by a pyramid where incense lingers in the air. The musicians switch from fez to sombrero to top hats as they unearth the beauties of North African, Spanish, Irish and classical forms. ... With so many groups playing at rather than with world music, it's refreshing to hear a concept that is so unified. The violinists really understand how versatile the instrument is and are fearless in casting it in so many diverse settings. Wow! Did this really come from Seattle?"

Roberta Penn, Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
"... The Guarneri Underground, a Northwest group led by multi-instrumentalist John Schussler and violinist Jeffrey Sick ... plays an evocative blend of blues, jazz, Celtic, and Indian music. The six-piece group's self-titled CD was one of the most interesting efforts in the area last year."

Chris Lunn, Victory Review:
"The two electric violins of Jeffrey Sick and John Schussler provide a delightful interplay and intriguing voicing. I love 'Take a Walk' which has a jaunty yet light dance motif with great drive provided by the bass of Gary Shelton and the drums of Ben Smith. 'Pacifying the Cat' is full and evocative like a classical movie theme, with Jamie Sieber's cello elegantly working against the bass drone while the violins take us upward. ... Well done..."

Chris Nickson, The Rocket:
"World music might be defined as 'Local music that's not from around here' (thank you, Folk Roots), but there's one excellent album with strong worldly touches that is from around here--New World (self-released), by Seattle's GUARNERI UNDERGROUND. The album features the violin virtuosity of Jeffrey Sick, who used to be in the Skinwalkers (they also hail from Seattle). With John Schussler and some guests, he's created something that rocks hard and intelligently. Outstanding, and worthy of a wide hearing."

Jennifer Kallen, KGHP, Gig Harbor WA:
"I love the entire CD and will be playing it regularly on my show...just included it in my top 20 for New Age Voice magazine!"

Claude Flowers, Eastside Journal, Bellevue WA:
"Don't let the 'instrumental' classification scare you off--the band's songs are really catchy, sort of like Pink Floyd without the ringing guitars and breathless vocals. 'Pacifying the Cat' winds a wistful melody that arcs and floats as effortlessly as the feather in the opening scenes of 'Forrest Gump.'"

Reviews of the live show

Melna Skillingstead, Arts Program Administrator, City of Redmond:
"The concert by Guarneri Underground at Microsoft on July 11 was FANTASTIC! We estimate there were 700 people in attendance. The largest crowd for an Arts in the Parks concert ever!

It was so interesting to hear that your group was returning to their 'birth place' so to speak. Thanks for putting on a wonderful show. We look forward to working with you again in the future."

Cathy Lauer Bazala, Cultural Arts Supervisor, City of Kirkland:
"Your dynamic performance attracted a huge audience at Marina Park and generated rave reviews! Thank you for handling every aspect of the performance with care and flair."

Wendy Becker, Everett Parks & Recreation
"Thank you for your incredible performance at the Port Gardner Landing Waterfront Concert Series Thursday evening. I am still excited about the response from the audence. I've been getting calls all week about your performance and compliments in my choice in bands. Thanks Jeff. Guarneri Underground made me look good for hiring you!"

Fred Crafts, The Register Guard (Oregon):
"The secret is out. Jeffrey Sick of Seattle is a dancer's musician--the kind of inspired artist whose impassioned playing conjures exotic images in the minds of choreographers such as Marc Siegel and Pamela Lehan-Siegel, who lead Dance Theatre of Oregon.

Marc Siegel, himself a jazz musician and composer, is so blown away by Sick's playing that he can scarcely control himself.

"He mixes every style of music you can imagine," Siegel says. "His songs have some blues, some jazz, some New Age. He just throws everything together, and the imagery it brings up is fantastic. Multi-layered.

"He can make his violin sound like a rock 'n' roll guitar, make it sound like a hoedown. He can go everywhere. It's really inspiring.

"Every time I've seen him play, people just go nuts for him."

In hopes that something like that might happen here, Dance Theatre of Oregon has engaged Sick as the guest artist for its "Tales and Secrets" program next weekend.

"When I hear his music, with all those different layers, it makes me think of movement. It just takes you to that place," Siegel says. "It's not your typical violin concert. It's more interactive."

Customer reviews of New World from Amazon.com

All New World reviewers gave 5 out of 5 stars.

They reach beyond mere entertainment and move the soul.
Reviewer: C Richard Stone from Bremerton, Washington November 12, 1999

I may be addicted. Hearing them at the (no kidding) Blackberry Festival in Bremerton, WA, I listened, mesmerized, then bought New World. After hearing that, bought everything they've done, too small a list. I am fortunate: I live in an area where I can hear them live from time to time. I think if I lived somewhere else, where I couldn't hear them, I'd move here so I could. If you haven't tried them, buy New World. It truly will be a new world for you.

Their CD is only second best to seeing them live
Reviewer: A music fan from Newman Lake, WA USA September 27, 1999

I saw them live at Sunbanks Blues Festival. They put on an awesome show. Jeffrey has an incredible stage presence. See them live if you can. If not, buy the CD. Each musician is very talented. They spontaneously jammed with Randy Oxford from Junkyard Jane and it was so seamless it sounded rehearsed. John and Jeffrey can create any sound from their electric violins. I bought the CD and I am still impressed. I will be listening to this many times.

heart lifting and soul freeing
Reviewer: A music fan from boston, massachusetts September 22, 1999

My son Sebastien and I love this CD. This is absolutely a music for reunion, joy, dream, and free spirits.

Great Jazz and more
Reviewer: A music fan from Bellevue Washington, US July 3, 1999

As many others here have said Guarneri Underground really does weave a rich blend of -many- types of music into their own savory mix. Mr. Bannister said it well in his 5/4 magazine review: "a world's fair of music that tantalizes with its sounds, sights, and smells." Well Okay, maybe the "smells" bit is a little to much artistic license for me : ) but their sounds are incomparable. I look forward to buying their next CD and to seeing them perform live more often.

Sophisticated yet spirited musicianship
Reviewer: A music fan from Seattle, WA June 29, 1999

I find this album to be an interesting study in musical contrasts: John exhibits a very polished and refined classically influenced style of playing, while Jeff seems more at home in a rough and tumble blues/rock kind of groove. Together, they create a wonderful tapestry of music that spans a wide range of genres. Highly recommended!

"del Geso" would be proud
Reviewer: robertd@rocketmail.com from Seattle, WA June 16, 1999

After listening to "New World", it's hard to believe the band isn't comprised of more familiar names in new age/jazz. Self produced and released by two very talented Seattle musicians, there seems to be a high quality mix of everything from jazz, new age, funk, middle eastern and celtic. A very strong batch of songs take you on trip around the world with some very pleasant stops in Egypt, Ireland, Turkey, the Carribean and even some slide bouzouki (Box Of Marbles) that has a sound straight outta the Delta! The album has so many satisfying elements that is it seems appropriate for just about anyone's taste or occasion. Highly recommended.

Awesome! Buy it!
Reviewer: A music fan from Austin, Texas June 15, 1999

This album is awesome! These guys are really talented. If you like new age jazz, Windham Hill jazz, and/or world music, I'm sure you'll really enjoy this album!

Something Great.
Reviewer: Ian Reandeau from Port Angeles, Washington. June 14, 1999

This CD is great, but not as good as seeing John, Jeffery, and crew in person. I enjoyed seeing them live (on Sky_s big day), so purchased the CD, I have had many others borrow it, and had a hard time getting it back! I look forward to seeing you perform again, and your next CD. For those of you who can_t get to see them live, get the next best thing!

catch them now before they're famous
Reviewer: A music fan from Kirkland, Washington June 14, 1999

This album has something for everyone and is especially good for the music lover who defies categorization. If you're stuck between genres, give this band a listen (and say you knew them when!).

vibrant new sounds
Reviewer: A music fan from Rome, Italy May 21, 1999

a whole new sound for music lovers of various persuasions. a little jazz, a little new age, a little funk and a whole lot of talent make this music worth listening to over and over. a cornucopia of sound from all corners of the globe -- an experience of true aural pleasure.

Customer reviews of Bootleg from Amazon.com

The party side of Guarneri Underground, violins that rock!
4 out of 5 stars. Reviewer: A music fan from Olympia, Washington November 18, 1999

I have seen this band in performance on several occasions and am thrilled to find a recording that does justice to them in a live setting. Their other CDs are sophisticated and musically exquisite, but do not convey their other face; that of a tremendously energetic and enjoyable band that you can dance to for hours. Particularly enjoyable is Jeffrey Sick's rendition of the Hendrix classic, 'VooDoo Chile'. This CD is an excellent representation of a band that is capable of bringing a whole audience to their feet. This CD gives the listener an opportunity to enjoy that hard to capture, live performance sound and personality of this talented group. The only reason I did not give it a full-on five star rating is because of some very minor technical glitches, but after all - it is a Bootleg CD!

Radio Stations on which you can hear New World

�� KCMU - Seattle

�� KBCS - Bellevue/Seattle

�� KGHP - Gig Harbor

�� KPLU - Tacoma