Paul Gilbert – Vibrato 2012

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No stranger to the work ethic, ‘Vibrato’ is Paul Gilbert’s twelfth solo effort to date, and that wealth of experience, not to mention the man’s exceptional skills as a musician (he is frequently hailed as one of the best, and fastest, guitarists of all time) and his dedication to music in all its many wonderful forms shines through on ‘Vibrato’, a collection featuring four original songs, four instrumentals and three live covers taken from the 2010 ‘fuzz’ tour including a raucous version of AC/DC’s ‘go down’.

A member of both Racer X and Mr Big, Paul Gilbert could be forgiven for resting on his laurels, but on the evidence of ‘Vibrato’ it’s not only clear that Mr Gilbert is a musical force to be reckoned with, but that both he and his insanely proficient band are driven by a burning ambition to craft an album that bristles with personality and style. Opening track ‘Enemies’, is the perfect example: there is plenty of exemplary guitar work, but this is no workman-like display of skill, Paul’s vocals are sublime and the track crosses the boundaries between blues, blistering hard rock and jazz with an easy fluidity that makes you question whether those boundaries were ever really there in the first place. It oozes charisma, and the instrumental follow up, in which Paul eases off and lets his wife and stunning keyboardist Emi Gilbert take the lead in a display that must surely have seen smoke pouring from the keys during recording, is equally brilliant. ‘Rain thunder and lightning’ is simply smoking hot, and the rhythm section of Thomas Lang (drums) and Kelly LeMieux (bass) must surely have done a deal with the devil to be as jaw dropping as they are on this piece.

The album’s title track sees the vocals kick back in is a funky number that primps and preens as it struts down Broadway, turning every head as it does. It is the driving percussion (perfectly captured in the brilliant production job from the distressingly talented Paul) and gritty guitar that really pushes this track, however, and elevates it from pastiche to passionate homage dripping soul and vitality. ‘Put it on the char’ is a hard rock instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place on the two recent Europe albums with its crunchy guitar tone, Jon Lord-echoing keyboard lines and dizzying solos and as the track grows increasingly frantic, fans of nimble guitar work will be unable to restrain their joy as Paul’s soloing grows ever more inventive. Next we are treated to ‘bivalve blues’  which recalls David Gilmour’s recent ‘On an island’ album with its roots in the blues, but a melodic, progressive feel washing over the song, the composition alive with depth and feeling. It’s a highlight of the album with its remarkable guitar work ably supporting, rather than trampling over, the power of the song; Paul’s restrained playing a sultry, dark joy that aches with feeling and emotion. The only studio-based cover on offer ‘Blue Rondo A La Turk’ (Dave Brubeck) is a nitrous-powered reworking of an already ground-breaking classic which once again allows Emi’s unparalleled skills on the keyboard to shine, and the track provides the perfect, hi-energy contrast to the wonderful, elegiac beauty of ‘Bivalve blues’. ‘Atmosphere on the moon’ is another track that blurs the lines between blues and jazz, the guitar playing incendiary and the vocals shot through with soul-laden blues whilst the percussion operates in its own unique world, Thomas Lang’s playing a blinding inspiration for drummers with his intuitive and emotive playing. Final studio track ‘the Pronghorn’ is an instrumental that is as nimble as it is imaginative, the song flowing from the speakers as the musicians coax the very best from their respective instruments for the grand finale.

1. Enemies(In Jail)
2. Rain And Thunder And Lightning
3. Vibrato
4. Put It On The Char
5. Bivalve Blues
6. Blue Rondo a la Turk
7. Atmosphere On The Moon
8. The Pronghorn
9. Roundabout
10. I Want To Be Loved
11. Go Down

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