WORD OF EAR - the new album

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Guitarist Wolfgang Schalk Releases Special Remix of
The Second Third Man feat. Michael Brecker
allaboutjazz/news

OUT NOW! Order your copy here!

"The Second Third Man" is indicative of the whole album. It is improvised music of originality and high performance. Schalk and Brecker are perfect foils… This is a high-caliber chops fest…" - Jazz.com
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With the follow up to his critically acclaimed release "Wanted" (Frame Up Music 2008) 
the bi-coastal (NY/LA) jazz guitarist Wolfgang Schalk presents new music with an exciting band that includes the tremendous rhythm section of drummer Tom Brechtlein and bassist Michael Valerio with outstanding contributions from award winning pianist Helen Sung and multi-keyboardist George Whitty. Yet, in contrast to the familiar term "word of mouth", it is the music that speaks with its unique yet familiar language. This embodies the essence of Word of Ear as Schalk reaffirms that "jazz is one of the deepest art-forms." These concepts are fully realized within the recording's nine tracks... • Details
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Interview in Just Jazz Guitar, August issue:
Q&A with Wolfgang Schalk
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"As if to quietly utter "enough with talking about the music...," guitarist Wolfgang Schalk gets to the heart of the matter with Word of Ear and lets his playing speak loud and clear…"
- All About Jazz
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"(Wolfgang Schalk) grown to a size no one else can come up to… the best, the most convincing, intellectually and - to the same degree - emotionally demanding jazz guitarist...
It's all about unrivalled world class." - Jazz Podium (Alexander Schmitz)
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"Great new album! Solid! I rarely get CD's by jazz guitarists this good. I am really knocked out. Thanks for your music. It stands out." - Tom Schnabel, KCRW Radio, CA
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"Wolfgang Schalk’s playing is fresh and innovative. This disc takes you by surprise from the start... hauntingly beautiful.”
- Just Jazz Guitar
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"A very fluent guitarist (perfectly at ease at rapid tempos) who also has an expressive sound, he introduces a set of originals (plus one standard)... " - LA Jazz Scene (Scott Yanow)
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PRESS "WANTED"

"Superb outing by Austrian guitarist is fueled by the forcefully swinging rhythm section of pianist Geoff Keezer, late bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. A decided Pat Metheny-Pat Martino influence on the burning title track, the mellow bossa “Monroe Street” and the frantic “A Hip Bop.”..." - Jazz Times (Bill Milkowski)

"Wanted" is a superlative album. A rarity, that speaks a very special, suggestive, lasting language in the transatlantic world of the jazz guitar." - Jazz Podium
(Alexander Schmitz--click to read the complete review in German)

"a powerful force...Schalk's single-note lines, on both electric and acoustic guitar, evoke the pin-point precision style of Pat Martino with the acumen of Pat Metheny...exceptional release." - All About Jazz (John Barron)

"...world class in every sense of the term...As well as being a strong composer and arranger Schalk delivers some very memorable solos...With “Wanted”, Schalk proves once again that some of the strongest and exciting voices in jazz guitar are coming from the other side of the Atlantic." – Just Jazz Guitar (Brandon Bernstein)

"...Schalk's make -it -look -easy swing and brisk, mellifluous lines. Philly's own Pat Martino, is another obvious forebear, as is Pat Metheny when Schalk goes for hollow-body rock and roll. But the younger axeman tailors the influences to his own ends rather than simply throwing on hand-me-downs."
- Philadelphia Daily News (Critic's picks by Shaun Brady)

"The electricity is palpable, as Schalk's fluid guitar works weaves around and over the remarkably kinetic drum work laid out by Smith. The intricate interplay between these four gentlemen is stunning...the music on Wanted is filled with supercharged emotion..." - All About Jazz, LA (George Harris)

"It is a terrific listening experience." - Fred Jung (All About Jazz / Down Beat Critics Poll)

"impressive spidery chops...Schalk can’t deny the Wes Montgomery influence in his playing but he’s no mere clone." - Cadence Magazine (Ken Weiss)

"His soft tone recalls Wes Montgomery, but his lines are full of surprises and, of course, the tempos are awfully bright." - Los Angeles City Beat (Kirk Silsbee)

"The guitarist plays with warm, languid tone, but peels off quick licks that avoid predictability...the rhythm has gone through elastic transitions...that recall the flexibility of the 1960s Miles Davis Quintet." - Jazz Times (Mike Shanley)

"really explosive jazz...reminiscent of Pat Metheny’s hippest record session." - KJazz Radio, CA

Times rating: CRITIC'S CHOICE Quartet Austrian guitarist Schalk lists a pair of Pats - Martino and Metheny - as influences. And both of those disparate styles surface from time to time in his intriguing work. But Schalk's own orientation, which reaches from warm- toned melodic playing to free-style adventuring, are equally present.
- Los Angeles Times (Don Heckman)

"With his soulful playing, Schalk is easily one of Europe's best guitarists." - Die Presse (sam)

"Playing in a modern fluid style...Mr. Schalk, who is from Austria, is one of the best jazz guitarists on the US scene (he lives in the US)...Heartily recommended, and I've been playing jazz on the radio for 30 years." - John Motavalli- -WPKN Radio, CT

"Wolfgang Schalk spotlighted compositions that were both arousing and engaging...As a player, Schalk was palatable and creative, while strongly influenced by Pat Martino's blistering and expressive methods,...Schalk's playing was the main focus and he placed away," - LA Jazz Scene (Chris Walker)

"If you can’t see Pat Metheny (with the exquisite Brad Mehldau) at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, check out Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Schalk...His excellent Space Messengers combines great chops and some very sophisticated writing." - LA Weekly (Brick Wahl)