July 16th release bodes to harness the “Momentum” generated by over 7.5 million YouTube views
Having traversed the world in search of intriguing sounds from
virtually every corner of the globe with his beloved Spanish guitar en
tow, Lawson Rollins has come full circle on his aptly titled fourth solo album, “Full Circle,” which will be released July 16th by his Infinita Records.
Adopting a “less can be more” philosophy on the twelve new songs that
he composed allows the focus to be on Rollins’ captivating melodies and
dexterous fretwork that unfold over worldbeat rhythms and multicultural
instrumentation. Radio listeners will be introduced to the collection
Rollins produced with multi-platinum producer Dominic Camardella (Ottmar Liebert, Flora Purim, 3rd Force) when the first single, “Momentum,” is shipped to stations in June.
Just
as he has on his previous releases, Rollins entered the recording
studio with Camardella (keyboards, piano) and a gifted ensemble
comprised of Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, bassist Randy Tico, percussionist Dave Bryant and saxophonist/flutist Richard Hardy.
Rollins plays classical, flamenco and electric guitars on “Full Circle”
along with keyboards and drum programming. The multilingual etchings of
the erudite guitarist fluctuate in tone and speed. Rooting the
compositions in sparser settings than utilized on his earlier albums (“Elevation,” “Espirito” and “Infinita”),
the storytelling guitarist spins enthralling escapades with his
six-string that are the focal point of the sonicscapes. Rollins
relishes the challenge of presenting material masterfully performed as
audacious amalgams constructed of mesmerizing melodies and exotic
rhythms mined from Afro-Cuban rumba, bossa nova, samba, mystical Middle
Eastern, tango, reggae, rock, classical and jazz.
Each
cut was thoughtfully crafted resulting in numerous highlights on the
disc. “Momentum” rides a relentless rumba-flavored groove seasoned with a
hint of Japanese folk music along a marching motion of melody. The
rumba party continues on “Pursuit,” which incorporates an Appalachian
fiddle motif to the thrilling chase. “Flight” and “Bloom” romance by way
of sultry bossa nova ambiances and a pristine nylon guitar sound. The
title cut recalls Rollins earlier work as a member of Young & Rollins
(2000-2006) with an updated approach to the salsa stylings. “Gone From
Here” is a sprawling rumba meets rock stroll on which Rollins makes a
rare pronouncement on electric guitar. Another diverse number that
Rollins refers to as a “journey piece” because of its deviation from the
typical song structure, “Shifting Seasons” is like 4 songs in one song
that melds folk, Asian elements, rumba and bolero rhythms.
“’Full
Circle’ is somewhat of a return to my roots in a sense, with the focus
shifting to a sound that is more centered and grounded in the instrument
I know best - the nylon string Spanish guitar. I was determined and
indeed excited to create a cohesive, guitar-focused album. I had to
reign in my instinct to apply layer upon layer of sound to any given
track. That's not to say that ‘Full Circle’ does not have some
adventurous musical rides, but the heart of the album can be found in
concise musical statements. Woven throughout the fabric of the
recordings is the constant thread of the guitar. ‘Full Circle’ is
perhaps the most accurate, pointed expression of my guitar style and
approach to melody and songcraft to date,” said the San Francisco-based
Rollins.
Rollins has generated over 7.5 million YouTube views,
an extraordinarily high number for an instrumentalist in his genre.
Over 6 million views came from the release of three astonishing
performance clips – “The Fire Cadenza,” “Santa Ana Wind” and
“Locomotion” – with the balance comprised of fans posting videos of
their own attempts to replicate his astoundingly prodigious techniques.
Rollins scored a #1 radio single at Billboard with “Moonlight
Samba” from the “Espirito” album in addition to collecting several Top
30 contemporary jazz radio hits. Last year, he guest hosted a national
radio program on Sirius XM and was profiled in Guitar Player
magazine, which marveled “He possesses ungodly classical chops, with
dazzling speed, uncanny accuracy, and a beautifully delicate touch.”
The songs contained on Rollins’ “Full Circle” album are:
“Momentum”
“Point of Attraction”
“Pursuit”
“Flight”
“Horizon”
“Bloom”
“Full Circle”
“Serpent’s Tale”
“The Offering”
“Gone From Here”
“Shifting Seasons”
“Promise”
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