Mark Yodice – June Again
The acoustic guitar is often given thankless roles. It provides a rhythm for the lead guitarist or, on a good day, might provide an intricate backdrop that is still outshined by the voice.
But not so in the hands of Mark Yodice. His CD, June Again, proves that the art of solo acoustic guitar playing is alive and well. In nine exquisitely crafted songs, he gives the listener a tour of the guitar’s soul. From the sleepy joyfulness of the opening Snow Day to the majestic closer Violent Oak, Mark proves that the guitarist doesn’t need words to be a master storyteller.
The range of emotions he evokes is astounding, from quiet, thoughtful meditations on Past Bloom and I Could Hardly Imagine to the hypercharged percussive play of Glow and The God of Frolic to the downhome, country and bluegrass flavor of Porchbuddies.
Mark combines a lot of stylistic elements into his playing. It would be a lot of fun to sit and pick apart the various nuances in a piece like Emma Turns A Head Or Two as it goes from being quietly seductive to outright sassy. But it’s more fun, and important I think, to take things as a whole, as in the frantically paced Jamu, The Bewildered Buddhist.
If you love the acoustic guitar, or ever wondered why other people love it so much, June Again is a great place to discover what this incredible instrument is capable of. And what the artist can create with his mind and the right tools.
Mark’s CD can be purchased at http://www.guitar9.com/
