GREG LOWE
Life So Far
Big Cheese
· Smooth as silk release from acclaimed jazz guitarist.
Greg Lowe’s fourth album is so smooth it damn near dripped out of my CD player at the end. Picture a laid-back Steely Dan getting together with a blissed-out Robben Ford in the summer of 1974, and you’ll have some idea of just how intoxicatingly mellow Life So Far is.
This isn’t a criticism, at least not necessarily. Winnipeg-born Lowe brings together all of his influences – most obviously George Benson, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana – into a seamless blend of jazz, blues and funk that’s just perfect for a late summer’s day, but still pretty good for a cold Sunday morning in winter. Technical perfection easily wins over any hint of real emotion, but that’s largely the nature of the beast, I suppose.
Of course, if your collection is already well stocked with the FM sounds of ’74, you can probably afford to pass on this one. If not, Greg Lowe is a beautiful example of a music that deserves wider exposure than your nearest elevator.
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