on 2012-10-25 danny_john_trio Said:

Brett Garsed:
(really needs no introduction): To guitar aficionados he is probably best known for his scintillating instrumental collaborations with US guitarist TJ Helmerich. Their two releases for the now-defunct Legato Records label, Quid Pro Quo & Exempt, are among the most sought-after albums of the genre.
http://www.brettgarsed.com

said: Hey Danny great to hear that you have the album in the works. I have such great memories of you, Rafael (Moreira), and Ernst (Ernesto Homeyer), coming in to Open Councelling and ripping everyone's faces off, (including mine)!
Cheers,
Brett.
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on 2012-10-25 danny_john_trio Said:

Steve Trovato:
(The Country Jazzmaster): Mr Trovato's students have achieved major success and include Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, and Norman Brown.
http://www.stevetrovato.com

said: Danny, Mr. Twister is very cool.
Huge guitar tone!
I like the way you blend fusion jazz and hard rock. Great playing Steve
Not Rated

Review:

on 2012-10-25 danny_john_trio Said:

Yesterday I had never even heard of Daniel John and today he is one of my favorite guitarists ever.
Danny grew up in Canberra, Australia. He picked up the guitar at age eight and taught himself to play. After gaining an enthusiastic response in Australia he dropped everything and moved to Hollywood where he attended Musicians Institute of Technology. After three years of studying and playing with the best he felt like he was ready. He moved back to Australia and played with the best musicians Australia has to offer.
His latest venture The Danny John Trio is Daniel John (Guitars); James Dennett (Drums) and Marcos Gil (Bass).

Their second album, Mr. Twister is ablaze with flashy, raucous, intense musical masterpieces. From the moment I hit play I was in guitar shredder heaven.

I hate it when guitar virtuosos put out albums with a bunch of singing with little guitar solos in-between. Mr. Twister delivers everything I ever wanted to hear on an instrumental guitar album. The shortest song is over 5 minutes long.
Dont get me wrong, this isnt just a bunch of heavy metal shredding for the sake of fitting as many notes into a measure as you can. No, each song on this album is a treasure trove of diverse styles, odd meters and vast dynamics, amazingly clean sweep picking, plus incredible bass and drum solos.

Mr. Twister starts out heavy with Drift. A lone distorted rhythm guitar progresses into a full out attack of guitar voodoo. Its a nine minute song, but it never gets boring. Would rivals the group The Mars Volta for having the most genres in one song. The title track Mr. Twister is a lesson in playing in every meter except 4/4. Lighthouse makes a game of changing keys every two beats.
This album was recorded in 17 hours, but you would never guess. Its a testament to the amazing talent of these artists. If they were painters this would be their Mona Lisa. If you are looking for a perfect Rock/ Jazz Fusion album, this is it. Look no further.

Key Tracks: Drift, Mr. Twister, Lighthouse
Kirk Bullough  Muzikreviews.com Contributor
Not Rated

Review:

on 2012-10-25 danny_john_trio Said:

Many instrumental guitar trios capably blend jazz, rock and blues elements,but the one led by Australian guitarist Danny John takes a harder stance. With feet firmly planted on the metallic side of the fence, John, bassist Marcos Gil and drummer James Dennett occasionally dip a toe into other genres through tempo shifts, key changes and dynamics to create a compelling Down Under variation of instrumental rock that's suitably bottom-heavy.
Three years of studying at the Musicians Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA, and rubbing elbows with Tribal Tech's co-founding guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis, trained John to think further outside the box. Drift, the opening track to his Aussie trio's latest CD, Mr. Twister, starts out with a thunderous guitar riff before serpentining into 7/4 half-time and 7/8 double-time meters.
The subsequent Would lightens the mood a touch through its waltzing cadence, although John's burning solos -- in both the main theme and frantic midsection -- hardly conjure up images of ballroom dancing. John, Gil and Dennert seem to try to skirt standard 4/4 time whenever possible, and make a shell game of the meter in the epic title track. With its multiple sections and array of guitar tones, the extended piece hints at Canadian rock trio Rush without bassist Geddy Lee's high-pitched vocals.

Whole flirts with the blues, albeit in 9/8 time, and offers jazz nuances through John's nimble, often abstract picking and Gil's solo. Dennett then takes the spotlight. The drummer's middle break is a lesson in double-bass drum footwork and limb independence, and his pacing also keeps the funky-yet-frenetic, 4/4-timed Predilection from spiraling out of control.
The opening atmospherics of Badland work through the unorthodox note choices by Gil, yet the near-ballad goes into overdrive sections as well. And the closing Lighthouse, after Dennert's muscular intro, features not only another statement-making Gil solo but a theme that constantly changes keys.
John's playing and compositional prowess collectively echo guitarists from rocker Steve Vai to fellow Aussie fusion artist Frank Gambale, and bands from Rush to Georgia instrumental rock icons the Dixie Dregs. Clearly, there's a new thunder Down Under.

Personnel:

Danny John (guitar)
Marcos Gil (bass)
James Dennett (drums)

Tracklisting:

1. Drift
2. Would
3. Mr. Twister
4. Whole
5. Predilection
6. Badland
7. Lighthouse

Bill Meredith
Not Rated