(Modern Creative, Guitar Jazz, Straight-Ahead) [WEB] Steve Herberman Trio (Tom Baldwin, Mark Ferber) - Ideals {Reach Music} - 2008, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Biography:
"Steve Herberman exhibits a vast harmonic palette involving uncommon stretches on the fretboard along with a real capacity to burn on fluent single note lines... His sheer command of the instrument puts one in mind of such jazz guitar masters as Joe Pass, Joe Diorio, Lenny Breau, and Gene Bertoncini. His nuanced touch, excellent tone, tasteful, even phrasing and fresh writing style, further elevates Herberman far above the pack of other talented Berklee grads...definitely worth checking out for fans of advanced jazz guitar." - Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes (05/07)
Steve is a graduate of Berklee College Of Music later adopting the seven-string guitar in 1993. Steve Herberman has performed at venues such as Birdland in NYC, Spazio in Los Angeles, the NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville, and recently at the North Wales jazz guitar weekend in the U.K. as a featured guest artist. Closer to home he has performed at Blues Alley, the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe, and the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts. Steve has played with renowned musicians such as Keter Betts, Buster Williams, Gary Bartz, Drew Gress, Chuck Berghofer, Mark Ferber, Jim Snidero, Chuck Redd, Ali Ryerson, Steve Williams, Steve LaSpina, Jeff Hirshfield, John Pisano and many more.
Steve Herberman has recorded three CDs as a leader; Thoughtlines (2001) Action:Reaction (2006) and Ideals (2008.) His recordings have received wide critical acclaim in JazzTimes, Downbeat, Jazz Improv and many others. Steve’s recent CD, Ideals, reached the Top 10 on the JazzWeek chart for national airplay remaining on the chart for 16 weeks. Action:Reaction, a CD of Steve's original music, was chosen as one of the top 50 CD's of 2007 by Jazz Improv magazine.
Steve Herberman has taught at Towson University in Baltimore since 1999 as an adjunct faculty member. He has presented masterclasses in the U.K. and at many universities across the U.S. Steve has written instructional material for Downbeat magazine, Mel Bay’s Guitar Sessions, Just Jazz Guitar, the National Guitar Workshop newsletter and columns for Modern Guitars webzine. He is an online instructor for www.mikesmasterclasses.com where he has taught dozens of popular jazz video lessons. Steve Herberman has been featured on the cover of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (Feb. 2009) with his Comins guitar that he has endorsed for many years.
Source: http://steveherberman.com/bio.html

Steve Herberman: Ideals (2008)
By DAVE MAJOR, Published: October 17, 2008
Much of what is written in reviews about Steve Herberman's playing is analogous to the created illusion of two guitarists, or the use of overdubbing. Ideals, however, finds such a statement wanting and unsuitable. Guitar and piano trios have always had a distinctive vibe and aesthetic, but here, Herberman blurs the line with his adept application of counterpoint and refined harmonic epitome. Voicings never sound 'stock,' but well considered and purposeful and by no means overly contrived. Improvised lines roll out with subtle diversity in phrasing and above all, dynamic contrast. His accompaniment (both of himself and his band mates) is complimentary, exacting, and always stylish.
Following his sophomore recording, Action:Reaction (Reach Music, 2006), Herberman is again joined by drummer Mark Ferber and new recruit, bassist Tom Baldwin. However, in contrast to the previous album—which was entirely comprised of his own imaginative and polished compositions—he stretches out into the domain of the great jazz composers, visiting the works of George Gershwin, Victor Young, Mal Waldron and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
The four originals presented here continue his strong exploration of harmony and form, with the melodies smoother and less angular than on previous outings. "She's For Me" is a prime example of this well developed and delivered work, and Baldwin adds an exemplar improvisation which connects perfectly with Herberman's playing, leading to the crisp tradeoff with Ferber.
The connection between bass and guitar is again supremely evident on Baldwin's arrangement of "Soon." Here, polar disparities between the whimsical four-on-the-floor, bass-led melody of the opening, and the virtuosic jostling at the close, reveal a strong and importantly effective relationship between the musicians. This is not to say that Ferber doesn't contribute; his rhythmic sensibility and precise flair behind the kit doesn't simply fulfill the drummer's clichéd role of "holding the trio together" (an unfair assessment of his impact), rather he truly furthers the group as a musical entity.
Herberman continues to be one of the finest guitarists of his generation, and Ideals slots perfectly into an already notable, and hopefully long, celebrated discography.

A modern guitar jazz trio recording featuring contrapuntal style guitar, bass and drums over a varied program of originals and standards.
Album Notes:
Steve Herberman and his trio stretch out over a set of favorite modern jazz classics and originals ranging in styles, meters and moods. The unique arrangements and extended improvisation coupled with subtle group interplay holds the listeners attention. At the root of Steve's playing is a love of contrapuntal textures, a harmonic approach to improvising and rhythmic diversity. "Ideals" consists of four new original compositions and seven standards with a few surprises.
"Control is what Steve's talent(s) is all about. And, his devilish take on the classic standard "Will You Still Be Mine" will attest to this! More important is his guitar nuances, his feeling for the song, his overall interpretive cast on the American Songbook, his melodic line, his choice of jazz harmonies. This defines his massive talents. In this extensive CD project, there are an astonishing variety of straight ahead jazz ballads and up tempo song choices, delivered with immense sophistication. The power, quantity, and quality of Steve's effort here puts him in the category of those jazz players that one can only aspire to."
-George W. Carroll, The Musicians' Ombudsman 11/08
"(Herberman's) improvised lines roll out with subtle diversity in phrasing and above all, dynamic contract. His accompaniment (both of himself and his bandmates) is complimentary, exacting, and always stylish...Herberman continues to be one of the finest guitarists of his generation, and Ideals slots into an already notable, and hopefully long, celebrated discography".
-Dave Major, All About Jazz 10/08
CD Liner Notes by Vic Juris:
I have been a big fan of Steve's for a number of years now. This new CD captures his best playing to date. Recording a guitar trio CD requires a good deal of preparation and requires the right bassist and drummer. Bassist Tom Baldwin is one of the best of the new breed that I have heard in a number of years. He accompanies the trio flawlessly and has impeccable intonation and accuracy. Drummer Mark Ferber is one of the busiest players on the New York scene. He really understands the dynamic levels of the guitar and is extremely creative and supportive. I am fortunate to have an advance copy of this wonderful recording. Steve Herberman is the present and the future of jazz guitar.
BIO:
"Steve Herberman exhibits a vast harmonic palette involving uncommon stretches on the fretboard along with a real capacity to burn on fluent single note lines... His sheer command of the instrument puts one in mind of such jazz guitar masters as Joe Pass, Joe Diorio, Lenny Breau, and Gene Bertoncini. His nuanced touch, excellent tone, tasteful, even phrasing and fresh writing style, further elevates Herberman far above the pack of other talented Berklee grads...definitely worth checking out for fans of advanced jazz guitar."- Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes (05/07)
Steve is a graduate of Berklee College Of Music. He adopted the seven-string guitar in 1993. Steve Herberman has performed at venues such as Birdland in NYC, Spazio in Los Angeles, the NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville, Blues Alley, The Smithsonian Jazz Cafe, and the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts. He has performed with renowned musicians such as Keter Betts, Buster Williams, Gary Bartz, Drew Gress, Jim Snidero, Chuck Redd, Chuck Berghofer, Mark Ferber, Steve Williams, Steve LaSpina, Jeff Hirshfield and John Pisano.
Steve has two previous CD’s as a leader; Thoughtlines (2001) and Action: Reaction (2006) His recordings have received wide critical acclaim in JazzTimes, Guitar One, Jazz Improv and others.
Steve Herberman has taught at Towson University in Baltimore since 1999 as an adjunct faculty member. Steve has taken his workshops to various schools, most recently James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University. He has written instructional material for Downbeat magazine and Mel Bay’s Guitar Sessions as well as a monthly column for Modern Guitars webzine. He is an online instructor for Mike's Masterclasses. Herberman has moderated symposiums with panelists and guitar greats Jim Hall, John Scofield, Ralph Towner, Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Eric Johnson and Martin Taylor at the World Guitar Congress in 2004. He is a Comins guitars endorser.

Myspace: http://myspace.com/steveherberman
WIKI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Herberman