Bob Bonastre - Existence

The music of the French guitarist Bob Bonastre will appeal to all those who know how to appreciate the sound of serene arpeggios and full-bodied chord clusters. Bonastre, who uses classical guitar, electric guitar, voice and percussion for his sound images, has been influenced by the music of South America. He is especially associated with to musicians such as Egberto Gismonti, Pat Metheny or Ralph Towner. Like them, he is able to build up a harmonic environment out of relaxed melancholy and captivating attaccas, topping them off with melodic phrases. Brilliant harmonics keep peering out of his pieces and improvisations, followed by wild bass runs and perfectly articulated themes. He is also familiar with work with the prepared instrument: In the ”Kaolak” cut, Bonastre has his guitar sound like a mixture of African Kalimba and a distorted electric guitar with driving underlying grooves. Those with an open ear for such sonorous experiments will delight in Bob Bonastre’s new CD ”Existence”.