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A big high five to Mel! Check out the April 2006 Guitar Player (Derek
Trucks on the cover). Guitar player has really been on a roll
lately...with just about every month having something surf or surf
related in it. Deke's 2nd Guitar Freak column is also inside.
Meshugga Beach Party
Twenty Songs of the Chosen Surfers
Exotic melodies are as big a part of surf's oeuvre as clangorous
reverb and Fender guitars. So it's no surprise that guitarist Mel
Waldorf's paean to his Jewish heritage works so effortlessly. See,
after making the connection between the parting of the Red Sea and the
curl of the Banzai Pipeline (it's a joke folks, his, not mine),
Waldorf got to work arranging traditional Jewish folk songs such as
"Hava Nagila," "Driedel, Driedel," and "At the Rabbi's Table" for a
rather snappy surf record. Tackling all of the instruments but the
drums, Waldorf's arrangements, on first listen, seem fairly standard,
sporting equal parts twangy, yet furious double-picking, and splashy,
'verbed-out melodies. But consecutive spins reveals Waldorf's clever
use of baritone guitar textures, as well as strategic overdubs to
highlight the tune's melody. A fun record -- even for goys like me!
-- Darrin Fox
Copyright (C) 2006 Guitar Player
