A fascinating tour de force and a display of Raphael’s acoustic guitar artistry and talent, Star Lullaby is a unique approach to instrumental music. Presented as a two-disc set, the first disc holds fourteen solo guitar pieces played with grace and intimacy, while the second disc offers the same recordings with the addition of stellar guest stars on a variety of accompanying instruments.
Press release by LAZZ Promotions, Ed & Stacey Bonk
The resultant contrast turns Star Lullaby into an exploration of two musical landscapes; one of more subtle and personal solo works followed by expanded textures as other instruments are added to the mix on the second disc.
Disc two also showcases Groten’s versatility; featuring his steel and nylon string guitars, ukulele, percussion, clay whistle and voice. The list of guest artists reads like a “Who’s Who” of contemporary instrumentalists: bassist Michael Manring, cellist Eugene Friesen, flutist Ron Korb, violinist Charlie Bisharat, percussionist Jeff Haynes, vocalist Noah Wilding and Will Ackerman on guitar. Star Lullaby was produced by Grammy winnerAckerman, Tom Eaton and the artist. Eaton engineered, mixed and mastered the album.
Will Ackerman describes the album: “Raphael Groten’s pieces are a bit like a Japanese rock garden…his compositions on Star Lullaby are wonderfully spare of unnecessary ornamentation and concentrate exclusively on the essential.”
For more information and music samples, see raphaelgroten.com