Solo

A good choice of tunes, catchy melodies, and sympathetic solos combine to make this a surprisingly appealing album, despite its simplicity. Brunod has a knack for penning tunes with hooks, the sort that somehow beckon the listener to come back for more. In this sense, the compositions by Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Bill Frisell fit right in, although the latter's suffers somewhat from an inherent atmospheric quality. Each of the tracks was recorded live at festivals or clubs. A couple include bassist Guido Marchegiano, whose contributions are secondary to the guitarist. Brunod does not impress with technique as much as through his touch, expression, and concept. Despite a modest approach, he is still a strong presence, able to bring together a little rock rhythm for his stirring version of Coleman's "Lonely Woman" and a diversity of styles elsewhere (even including some down-home spaghetti western twang). His lazy and unusual take of Coltrane's "Naima" converts it into something new without changing a note. Although this recording is a compilation, it is well paced, even if it is a bit short. It highlights a skilled guitarist with a strong identity who is not afraid to be occasionally adventurous. For a mostly solo album, this one does a good job at maintaining the listener's interest throughout.