Look back step forward (independent, 2013)
“Look back step forward” is the second solo album by guitarist Gadi Caplan. Like many other self-produced albums, Caplan includes a varied mix of musical styles that he’s interested in. This includes progressive rock, jazz, funk and world music.
The album opens with the weakest track on the album, an instrumental funk tune titled ‘It’s all the same.’ Thankfully, the music gets much better after that with a beautiful solo acoustic guitar piece called Charlotte.
The third cut takes Caplan into fascinating progressive rock territory. On ‘Brother’ he delivers an outstanding crescendo, beginning with delicate guitar and engaging vocals supported by drums and bass. It gradually grows in intensity, into soaring electric guitar solos supported by drums, cymbals, and orchestral keyboards. Symphonic rock at its best.
‘Within the Clouds’ is Caplan’s rendition of George Harrison’s famous Indian-inspired song. Caplan begins with dreamy space rock that morphs into tasty guitar-driven fusion.
‘Frostbite’ continues in a progressive rock direction with the keyboards of Michael Hurwirtz joining Caplan’s guitar for dazzling interactions. It has a Canterbury feel to it.
Indian classical music is one of Caplan’s passions and this is reflected in ‘Indian Summer,’ a charming composition with notable flute, violin and guitar work inspired by Carnatic (southern Indian) music.
On ‘Look back step forward’ we get to enjoy the outstanding violin work of Duncan Wickel. Although the percussion has a Mahavishnu vibe to it, the guitar and violin are solidly in progressive rock territory.
‘Monsoon Season’ combines Indian and Middle Eastern melodies with electric guitar-fueled progressive rock.
Caplan switches to contemporary jazz on the flavorful ‘A Latin winter’ that features Alex Santiago on drums.
The album closes with more fine symphonic rock, featuring attractive guitar and violin melodies.
The lineup on Look back step forward includes musicians from two of Caplan’s bands: keyboardists Michael Hurwitz and Gonzalo Allendes, bassists Noga Shefi and Maciej Lewandowsky, and drummers Alex Santiago and Moses Eder. Guests are violinist Duncan Wickel, oud player Jussi Reijonen, flutist Tucker Antell, saxophonists Lihi Haruvi and Michael Summer, keyboardist Christian Li, and singer Oded Weinstock.
Gadi Caplan is an Israeli guitarist and composer currently living in the United States, working in the Boston and New York areas. He originally studied piano as a child and switched to guitar in his teens. He cultivated a passion for rock and blues which took him on many travels throughout the years. He visited India in 2004-2005 where he studied traditional Indian music and sitar. He later landed in New York City in 2006 where he joined various rock bands. Next, he moved to Boston in 2007 to study jazz, fusion and funk along with composition at the Berklee College of Music.
In Boston, Caplan started collaborating with different singers and jazz and rock bands. He formed his own band in 2008. All of these different elements of Caplan’s musical interests and influences were fused together on his first album Opposite Views, released in January 2011.
The album is available from http://gadicaplan.bandcamp.com/album/look-back-step-forward