Ryan David Green – Off and Running
So, while the playing on this is always superb & many artists have explored such arresting guitar with clarity, definition & virtuosity what is a reviewer to do? Bring out every descriptive word he can find to describe an artist’s talent. Ryan David Green is a guitar-slinger. Period. He’ll get enough kudos from critics & reviewers who also play the guitar, I don’t. So, what do I know about critiquing a guitarist?
I know what I like, what it should be to sell & what would be appealing to Every Man’s ears. Since I’m essentially, an everyman. What’s done is listen closely to see what can be admired beyond expertise. Disregard the technical competence commentary. If I hear it, so can others. Many did when Mason Williams had a hit in 1968 with “Classical Gas.”
I won’t analyze every nuance like Guitar World writers who not only understand chords, notes, fingerpicking & strumming, different tunings, strings & wood the guitar is made of but describe in ways only other guitarists can appreciate. I’m trying to make people who love guitar but can’t play understand.
11 compelling tunes make up this Tucson, Arizona guitarist’s essential parts on Off and Running (Drops June 14/Independent/32:30) written, produced & played by Ryan David Green (guitars/vocals/bass/keys/percussion). It’s not a set of instrumentals. There’s singing. He’s not Elvis or Paul McCartney, but he does have a far more attractive voice than the late guitarist Roy Buchanan.
What can I do to explain my assessment? I listen & listen again to his creativity, originality & approach to playing & ask if it’s entertaining. What does this guy have that Robben Ford might not have, or Al Di Meola, Pat Martino, Bert Jansch, John Fahey, or Leo Kottke? I don’t hear his guitar playing compounded with the entertaining fireworks of Tommy Emmanuel. But that doesn’t mean Ryan can’t light a guitar up on stage. He does.
The sounds fingerpicked (“Time Is Not What You Think It Is”) are durable despite a light touch & elegant speed. The tasty identity that he gives his pieces. Yes, identity, character & individualism. I hear it. Ryan’s also an artist who knows how to breathe life into his melodies in ways a puppeteer gives his marionettes & puppets a life of their own. A guitar has strings too, right? Ryan controls it. He gets the steel, wood, frets & bridge pins to work together & it creates a song through his nimble fingers. I like the sound & tuning of these songs. All have finesse. He has a skill that owes nothing to showboating since Ryan provides the fascination.
Highlights – “Afterlife,” “Off & Running,” “Time Is Not What You Think It Is,” “In a Dream,” “Song for Beth” & “After the Rain.”
Musicians – Jordan Perlson (drums), Kaitlyn Raitz (cellos), Abbie Gardner (dobro) & Ben Plotnick (string arrangements/violins/violas).
Color image courtesy of Taylor Noel Photography. Music & CD @ Bandcamp + https://ryandavidgreen.com/product/995613