Cellocentric
Cellocentric (self-released)
An instrumental group that features mandolin player/guitarist Doug Wood, cellist Tara Hanish and bassist Darren Frate, Cellocentric bridges a few different musical genres, and the group has recently taken to collaborating with some of the Classical Revolution Cleveland folks. It often invites flutist Jeiran Hasan and violinist Chiara Stauffer to play with it too. This album certainly includes a wide range of material. Album opener “Black Canyon” features gently strummed guitars and has an airy, New Age feel to it; meantime, “Mount Elbert Peak” goes for a bluegrass vibe. The band even ventures into pop territory with a cover of the George Harrison classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood,” tunes that soar as they virtually sound like an entire string section is backing the band. A consummate guitarist who takes after the late, great Michael Hedges, Wood gets to show off his skills on “Too Far Away” and “Baklava.” But the album isn’t just about great guitar work: It’s a band effort and the other musicians have just as important a role as Wood.
Cellocentric performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Rockefellers in Cleveland Heights.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 2, 2014.
