Bruce Kaphan "Slider"

Mike Dennis · Post by **Mike Dennis** » 25 Jul 2005 3:56 am

Ambiant Excursions For Pedal Steel Guitar.
Available on CD, Heart Of Space 11404-02.

I only just recently heard this recording.

An extremely dreamy new age style recording.
Bruce pulls off sounds and will take you to places that only exist on this CD. It's like a trip through a crystal rainbow over the south seas. With song names like "Clouds", "Country and Eastern", "High Desert", "Outpost' and more.
A very unique pedal steel guitar recording.

Thanks

Mike Dennis

PS Oh ya, I'm still here. :>)

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 25 Jul 2005 5:25 am

I have 'Slider', and I love it. There are examples of the essence of country, or 'western', in the sound of pure steel.

I look forward to Ambient Excursions.
Between Chas Smith, Susan Alcorn, and Kaphan, I don't know what to get next.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 25 Jul 2005 6:52 am

Through this CD and his other work, Bruce is one of the Steelers who are making inroads in many circles where steel is a little-know commodity. One of the guys we're always hoping for to "push the envelope". Also a very talented producer.

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Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 25 Jul 2005 10:00 am

I've had this CD for several years now,& it is one of my TOP FAVORITES,because its DIFFERENT!! It ain't Hawaiian,it ain't Country,It ain't Pop,but it IS GREAT!! I'm a BIG fan of "New Age" music anyway. You go Bruce!!

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Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 25 Jul 2005 10:50 am

Ditto Smiley.. I exchanged a couple of emails with Bruce, who is a forum member, and found him to be a super nice guy. I usually play that CD for friends who 'don't like' that whiny thing..

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 25 Jul 2005 11:13 am

I really like this CD, and I don't always like 'ambient' music. It's interesting musically, and avoids the 'hot tub music' mentality of so much 'new age' music. Just my opinion, and I also have nothing against hot tubs or music appropriate for same.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 Jul 2005 11:15 am

Between Chas Smith, Susan Alcorn, and Kaphan, I don't know what to get next.

I suggest B.J. Cole's "Transparent music" and "The Heart Of The Moment." B.J. has 2 other CDs out but they are techno-rock. They are both very good, but they totally different from the first two, and not even remotely related to ambient music.

2 more fine CDs that aren't exactly in the same vein but are close enough to be of interest to fans of New Age music are Ned Selfe's "Errands In paradise" and Robert Powell's "Desert Beach." Ned Selfe's CD is mostly dobro and steel. Robert Powell is a guitarist who doubles on steel, and although his CD has a lot of steel on it, it is primarily a guitar album.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 25 Jul 2005 11:31 am

The list keeps growing, including The Firebird, a must have.
Thanks, Mike.
Which is better, "Transparent music" or "The Heart Of The Moment." given that I like solo steel, but not so much 'new age'?[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 25 July 2005 at 12:58 PM.]

Post by **b0b** » 25 Jul 2005 12:01 pm

Bruce has recently reissued this CD with his own label. You can get it from the Forum Catalog

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Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 28 Jul 2005 9:23 pm

Which is better, "Transparent music" or "The Heart Of The Moment."

Personally I prefer Heart of the Moment.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Jul 2005 10:10 pm

Fine CD, also one of my favs.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 Jul 2005 2:53 pm

Ok, two trusty recommendations on that.

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 29 Jul 2005 4:54 pm

It actually is a great meditation album. And you can listen to it at other times too!

Giorgio Robino · Post by **Giorgio Robino** » 31 Jul 2005 8:20 am

Hi Charlie, all

Between Chas Smith, Susan Alcorn, and Kaphan, I don't know what to get next.

Solyaris incoming CD "Mellow Stasis" ( http://solyaris.altervista.org ) ?

A part jokes, "Slider" is really enjoyable; I love particularry the piece 6 "sideways carousel" for slow harmonic chords progressions ... I listened "Slider" last friday on my car ... in fact the album are based mainly on "songs" at a consciousness level allowing a car-listening (this is not a negative fact indeed); I thought that Bruce have harmonic ideas very similar to Pat metheney guitarist ... an artist Pat, that I love & hate ... but realized non trivial Personal armonic invention on jazz guitar.

Anyway, It's a pity that Bruce didn't publised further solo album (as far as I know).

Now, if you like to see how the pedal steel guitar become a vehicle for go in depth in lands-cape (in the "land's knowledge) you need listen Susan Alcorn music ( www.susanalcorn.com ), infortunately she do not ahve published all her wonder CDs and I hope she will do hopefully maybe also in via the Bob catalogue (as I suggested both to Susan and Bob some time ago).

Btw, if Bruce just mention the love for indian music (you can listen in two pieces of "slider" some "sitar" sound emulation)
in my opinion Susan music is more deeply "indian" not in sound but in the raga approach ... maybe a unconventional FREE raga passing through the safety of western (and country western music if I allowed to say) to the fearlessness of complete atonal athmosferes ... wonderful COSMOPOLITE FREE music; Susan is my first reference on *how* an artis may create freedomly!
Susan play what in USA you define "avantgard" (strange term for me indeed) and what I could call "free jazz" (when I was a jazz musician) ... indeed Susan "raise" some PEACE that overtake the ribelion of many year of afroamerican fights ... with her we are in a new dimensions ... a new cosmopolite world that need PEACE! I highly reccomend music of my friend Susan!

Last but not least, if you want to go in infinity's skys-cape of a new world you need listen Chas Smith music!

"An hour Out of desert Center" is for me an absolute milestone on music "I need".
This work rapresent a must reference on how to transform plucked and bowed and treated strings in a spatial vehicle (whatever you want to define this music ... "ambient" or "cosmopolite impressionistic" or "avantgarde" or whatever you wand)!

giorgio