Ben Monder has outdone himself.

[Jimmy blue note]

Ben Monder has a new 3 CD set out that, in the tradition of Hydra, taps into the guitar's potential for beautiful lines, composition and harmonies that are unheard until now. It's really beautiful and challenging and inhumanly executed. It's very new and true to Ben's composing pieces that take 15 minutes to tell the story.
Three CDs of revelations in sound, a Rogers and Hart classic and a traditional timeless piece.
I'm going to be unfolding these pieces for the next year or so. Epic guitar.

[Navdeep_Singh]

I pre-ordered this on CD. It’s out September 27. Have you already heard it? Can you describe it more musical detail? Thanks

[James W]

[Jimmy blue note]

If you're familiar with his latest works, like Hydra, or even the songs he did with Theo Bleckmann (poems of Rumi), reworking spoken word with densely flowing voice led dense/spacious harmonies, you'll get this. I have no idea how he can write such powerful and individual compositions, no less get a band to play them, but this is like Hydra times three.
Some are quiet, almost like etherial lullabyes (Planetarium), or pieces of virtuosic intertwining lines that conspire to create elusive moods that defy the genre of jazz guitar. Some have vocals in vocalese (like Theo), and even lyrics to Chinese poet.
All in all, each piece is a compositional feat. And it's genre breaking through and through.
Not dance music.
Not wedding music...

Thoroughly engaging and exciting music for the engaged listener.
Yeah it's a treasure trove.

[Alter]

He is really an one of a kind player!

[Doctor Jeff]

I would call him a transcendental player, along the lines of Pharaoh Sanders.

Of course not everything he plays is as dense and complex as Hydra or this new work (which I haven’t heard yet). I don’t see how he does what he does, but then the vast majority of people can barely comprehend and only stand in awe of such talent.

JMO being transcendental doesn’t necessarily imply heroic technique, but it does imply pushing forms and technology to the limits.

Several similar examples come to mind: Arvo Part, JS Bach, Erik Satie, John Coltrane in his later years, Pat Metheny (with his long form works), Robert Fripp with his Frippertronics pieces, Eno with his ambient music, Harold Budd, Jon Hassell. What they have in common is fearless experimentalism, regardless of level of skill.

They aim for an otherworldly experience, and when they hit it, the results are awesome.

[marcwhy]

Excited about this release!!

[I saw him several years ago at a university gig; besides being an amazing player, he was really funny!]

[wolflen]

725 measures at a brisk tempo..wide time sig changes and rapid wide intervallic leaps..and in some kind of low D tuning

while creating a harmonic support for vocals

we are hearing the birth of harmonic/melodic evolution and its new inversions

a prelude to this kind of creation..

[Doctor Jeff]

725 measures at a brisk tempo..wide time sig changes and rapid wide intervallic leaps..and in some kind of low D tuning

while creating a harmonic support for vocals

we are hearing the birth of harmonic/melodic evolution and its new inversions

a prelude to this kind of creation..

You mean harmolodics??

Harmolodics - Wikipedia

[wolflen]

You mean harmolodics??

Harmolodics - Wikipedia

No. I don't hear anything that would fit into a known form..though atonal experimental "music" has been explored by many..I find Zappa and Fripp to be two composers coming from that direction. And yes in the classical field there are 12 tone composers who have influenced jazz musicians and even some rock players.

the other side could be more pop oriented fields..Brian Eno and his work with Fripp and Bowie.

And there are the many unsung musicians..composers doing works with advanced computer and electronic devices that have not fully realized completed works.

I think Monder and musicians who are deeply introspective (spiritual-inspired?) - Keith Jarrett comes to mind.

this kind of approach to any art form is a commitment to the craft. Monders practice schedule could only be advised for very few players..and even
then they would not have the same results.

Like many I aspire to a greater ability in creating music. Realizing how many creative musicians working on new ways to compose
is not a deterrent but an inspiration..Monder is one of them>

[Cunamara]

Well, that was jaw dropping. I did not hear the time sig changes where many were noted in the transcription, but that could just be my old tin ears... and there's no way to count this anyway.

I enjoy the combination of Ben and Theo in particular. A unique guitarist who sounds like no one else, and a mind-bending vocalist with unmatched flexibility and precision (he must have perfect pitch to be as accurate as he is) and who also sounds like no one else- possibly in the history of the species.

No wonder it takes Ben years to put out a CD.