Artist: Mikel Paris
Title: Guitar Drumming
Format: CD-EP
Genre: Rock
Label: Independent
Website
Mikel Paris offers up five tracks of high-energy rock on his EP Guitar Drumming. I like his approach and style to every song; he knows how to get across a lyric and play that guitar (with drumming) and change the "Flow" and atmosphere of a song in a moments notice.
"Move It" is a quick display of the artistry of guitar/drumming, it's a short but effective jaunt that leaves you hanging on, wanting for more. "Serpentine" is a real rocker that keeps you on the edge of your seat as a thumping methodical bass line holds you spellbound, then Paris's vocals kick in and his patented guitar licks come roaring at you, which sound mighty powerful at times. The acoustic guitar is as heavy as the electric at some points during the standout track. "Fortunately" and "Flow" are equally effective numbers then he closes out the EP with a Dylanesque (i.e. 60’s protest) tune called "Change It," giving you yet another facet of his repertoire to digest. Paris manages to give you a good sample of his many talents within five songs, which I think is very impressive considering this EP is just a taste of his capabilities.
I really like the sound of Mikel Paris and I look forward to hearing more from this talented artist soon. I have a feeling there is a lot more great music to come from his corner of the world.
July 13, 2004
1. Flow (3:14)
2. Fortunately (3:49)
3. Move It (1:35)
4. Serpentine (3:33)
5. Change (2:11)
Rating-9/10
Musician Credits:
Mikel Paris-Music and Guitar Drumming, Lyrics and everything else
Dave Heilman-Drums
Conrad Korsch-Bass
Jason Novak-Harmonica
Brian Devine-Additional electric guitars
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
It might be nice to know what "guitar drumming" is. I know I've never heard of it. Any explanation?
2 - Mark Saleski
yea. my first thought was that it might be something like Adrian Belew's "The Guitar As Orchestra".
3 - JR
I'm imagining something like that thing Tony Levin does with the drumsticks attached to his fingers.
4 - MikelParis
Let me enlighten. GuitarDrumming is a new style of playing the acoustic guitar that I've been developing for many years now. Encouraged by my time performing with the show STOMP, I decided to embrace this strange thing and put it out into the world. I hold the guitar with the soundhole facing up and slap, poke, flick, drum, knock, and thumb to create a cohiesive rhythmic structure that can be both gritty and hard as well as flowingly sweet. It's like a combination of playing the piano, the bass, percusion, and the guitar. Does that help?
MP
5 - fran
I met a guitar player at the evacuee shelter set up in tucson, az. he played on the guitar and sang the most wonderful rendition of amazing grace!
his name was paris! could this have been Mikel Paris?
I am trying to track him down in tucson. tonite is a fund raiser at the French Quarter club in tucson. maybe he will be there.
fran
6 - Lynne Watson
Anything that Mikel Paris does....he does well...Am I his biggest fan?.... LOVE watching him at the O.A.R. shows!
7 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
GuitarDrumming is a new style of playing the acoustic guitar that I've been developing for many years now
Granted, you may be the first to play the guitar with the "sound-hole" facing up but your technique is nothing pioneering. I think you should give some credit to Michael Hedges & Michael Manring. They were playing percussive guitar far before you thought of it...