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"What an incredible
amount of quality music is emanating from Canada these days!
Perhaps it's something in the water, or maybe the climate just lends
itself to the
creation of inventive, enjoyable music. Whatever the reason, guitarist
Jamie Bonk
is turning heads and perking up ears with Jamie Bonk,
his eponymous debut album.
Bonk has become a darling of the New Age music industry, and it's
one of those
success stories I'd like to see more of. His guitar playing is bouncy
and infectious,
his songwriting talent demonstrates a knowledge of popular taste.
Bonk is a rare
example of the "right talent at the right time."
"If You Only Knew," the opening track on the album, is receiving
airplay on the local
radio station which styles itself as "smooth jazz," but is in truth
more closely aligned
with "casual pop." And this is fine, since Jamie Bonk's music would
seem to fit that
category quite nicely. My personal favorite cut is "Violet Skies,"
which leaves me unable
to sit still whenever its opening notes cross the stream of my consciousness.
It's a tune
that has loads of rhythmic percussion - bongos and snare drums -
a funky bass line and
Bonk's own snappy guitar playing, which is crystal clear and spritely.
"Tiger Dance" is
similarly styled, but is portrayed in a more minor key. "Tanzen"
(German for "dance") is
a mysteriously-flavored tune in which Bonk spins images of an eastern
nature. "So I
Guess This Means Goodbye" is a wistful, but not broken-hearted look
back at life and
love, moving between sorrow and hope, covering a full spectrum of
emotions.
Rumor has it that Jamie Bonk hit Number One on the
New Age Voice Top 100. This
is quite an accomplishment for a debut album. From a personal perspective,
if this is
an indication of where the "New Age Music" movement is heading,
then I'm glad to be
along for the ride!" - Fred Puhan - Music
for a New Age
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