MARK WINGFIELD — Proof of Light (review)

MARK WINGFIELD — Proof of Light album cover Album · 2016 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
“Proof of Light” is the latest offering from guitar virtuoso Mark Wingfield, and it shows him taking on new horizons with his expressive guitar style and contemporary concert hall influenced compositions. This is fusion of the abstract variety, often leaning towards a modern post-bop openess similar to Terje Rypdal, Jan Garbarek or John Abercrombie. Wingfield’s heavily nuanced and fluid sound may remind you of Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai and the aforementioned Rypdal. Influenced much by horn players, Mark likes to make every note count with constant subtle changes in tone color and slight note bends. Wingfield is working with a bare backdrop of just bass and drums on here, which leaves him plenty of open space for his melodic explorations. Drummer Yaron Stavi supplies that sort of free style drumming that works well with Wingfield’s abstract approach.

Opening track “Mars Saffron” starts things off in a heavy rock fashion, but most of this CD is more in that “ECM” flavored melancholic post bop/fusion style. On “Voltaic”, the band goes absolutely free and crazy for a big sonic blowout that changes things up for a bit. Wingfield has a strong following among fellow guitarists, and that may be his best source of fans, because some listeners are going to find some of this to be a bit on the ethereal and intellectual side of things, Mark’s melodies are more interesting than they are memorable. Although both members of the rhythm section are given solos here and there, for much of this album the only lead voice is Mark’s, and once again its probably best if you are devoted fan of his playing. It does help that Wingfield is a very creative and modern guitarist who is good at avoiding the cliches.
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