Martin Barre

Martin Barre - Stage Left - 2003 - Fuel 2000

As the lead guitarist for Jethro Tull, Martin Barre has been joined at the hip to Ian Anderson since 1969, when he replaced Mick Abrahams in the group's lineup. His playing has provided much of the energy that allows the band to soar on record and in concert amid the beauty of Anderson's melodies and the complexity of his lyrics, and played no small part in helping the veteran band (some would say "dinosaur") win the 1988 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Album for Crest of a Knave. Anderson himself has been quoted as saying, "Without Martin Barre, Jethro Tull could not exist." Barre's solo work was confined to his home studio until he assembled a band to play some charity gigs in the early 1990s. Since then, he has recorded a pair of albums that allow him to stretch out in directions that Tull normally doesn't permit, and to put his instrument into new sounds, genres, and musical contexts. © Bruce Eder © 2014 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/martin-barre-mn0000373049/biography

"The first solo album from Jethro Tull's legendary guitarist," reads a back cover note, but that isn't true. Stage Left is actually Martin Barre's third album made up primarily of guitar-driven rock instrumentals, following Trick of Memory (1994) and The Meeting (1996). But it is the first of his albums to earn release in the U.S. Barre's sound will be familiar to anyone who's been listening to his playing with Jethro Tull since he joined the group in 1969. He takes a highly textured approach, playing electric rock guitar much of the time as if he was playing English folk music on an acoustic. Sometimes, of course, he is actually playing an acoustic, and then the music is steeped in tradition while also having rock trappings. Yet Barre is anything but a typical rock guitar god. He has no real interest in soloing. When he does go for a heavy rock tune such as on "Murphy's Law," the melody, while often tricky and complicated, is logical and strictly followed. Barre's playing is always elegant, even when he's rocking hard, and always sounds like it's been worked out far in advance. Employing Jethro Tull members Jonathan Noyce and Andy Giddings, along with Darren Mooney on drums and, on the final track, "Don't Say a Word," Simon Burrett on vocals, Barre often recalls the sound of Jethro Tull, especially when he throws in some of his own flute playing. His music defeats the notion that the band is simply a vehicle for leader Ian Anderson, but on the other hand it can sometimes feel incomplete because one is used to hearing it married to Anderson's voice and lyrics. © William Ruhlmann © 2014 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. | All Rights Reserved

Stage Left is Martin Barre's fourth solo CD, Featuring 13 instrumental tracks and one with vocals. The Jethro Tull lead guitarist expertly plays a wide range of guitar-based styles including progressive rock, blues, folk, fusion, and classical and rock. Martin also uses some some ambient electronic styles. A different instrument is played on each track. He uses either acoustic or electric guitar on 12 tracks, and also a mandolin and bouzouki on two other tracks. Some of the guitars used include a Fender Mustang, Fender Strat., Gibson ES 335, and a Taylor acoustic. Martin’s signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull classic "Aqualung" album was voted by Guitar Player magazine readers as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time, and in 2007 Guitar World magazine rated the solo as one of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. Mark Knopfler, in a 2005 interview, called Barre's work with Ian Anderson "magical". However, there is no rapid fire fretwork on this album, but if you enjoy great guitar work without the pyrotechnics, you may enjoy “Stage Left”. BTW, the medieval folk tinged Tull flavour is strong throughout the album which is hardly surprising. Listen to Martin’s “The Meeting” album, and read more @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Barre [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 123 Mb]

TRACKS

1 Count the Chickens 2:38
2 As Told By 3:28
3 A French Correction 4:34
4 Murphy's Paw 3:48
5 Favourite Things 4:01
6 After You After Me 4:33
7 D.I.Y. 1:53
8 Spanish Tears 4:31
9 Stage Fright 4:07
10 Winter Snowscape 4:44
11 Nelly Returns 3:38
12 Celestial Servings 2:55
13 I Raise My Glass to You 2:06
14 Don't Say a Word 4:07

All tracks composed by Martin Barre except "D.I.Y." by Martin Barre & Peter Gabriel, and "Stage Fright" by Martin Barre & Robbie Robertson

MUSICIANS

Martin Barre - Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Flute
Jonathan Noyce - Bass
Andrew Giddings - Keyboards
Darren Mooney - Drums
Simon Burrett - Vocals on "Don't Say a Word"