Review
in JazzReview.com for Songs Without Words
Johann Helton in Songs Without Words is
an acoustical treasure that celebrates the diversity of the human experience.
Helton plays layers of acoustic and bass guitars throughout the CD with Lawson
Hill on percussion. Each recording is an individual soundscape
of emotion. The CD kicks off with an earthy “Going Home.” The rich vibrations
are organically rhythmic. “There’s A Reason” possesses a memorably happy
melody. By contrast, “Dangerous Considerations” is an upbeat stroll. Finger
snaps and a walking bass line add a slightly mysterious café vibe. A mood of
meditation is painted in “Garden Mist.” By removing the percussion, the tension
is released and you can let yourself go. Taking an emotional turn, “Song for
the Sorrows” is deeply resonating. “Nocturne (song for my father)” is a
partnership of bass and guitar. A flowing rapport is creating by marrying tone
and rhythm. Intimately alluring, “Quiet Room, Gentle Rain” is a celebration of
the reflective soul in all of us.
For
the full review
Review
in Minor7th.com of Songs Without Words:
Veteran solo guitarist Johann Helton has just released a wonderful
selection of homegrown acoustic guitar pieces. Helton’s musical influences seem
to come from classical, pop, and jazz. Many of the tracks offer impressive
improvisational work, most recognizable on the Jazzy "There’s A
Reason". All eleven pieces feature strong melodic integrity. Also very
noticeable is Helton’s ability to achieve unique textures on many of these
selections. "Songs Without Words" marks a
turning point for the artist: the album has only two solo guitar tracks as
opposed to Helton’s 2001 release of "Where Mountains End and Clouds
Begin" which was all solo work. "Going Home", the opening track,
begins with catchy set of progressions and then bridges into Helton’s
improvisations. The rest of the tunes showcase a host of different guitars and
basses, all played by Helton himself. On "Moroccan Roll" we find a
fine mix of percussions, bass, and nylon-string guitar to produce a seductive,
silky ethos. Helton’s commitment to articulate every note and the fidelity of
the engineering achieved on this album make for a very enjoyable listening
experience. The album ends with Helton on steel-string. This acoustic/bass duo
reflects Helton’s appreciation for melody and his ability to create imaginative
compositions. © Bernard Richter
For
the full review
Review of Songs
Without Words in WindandWire.com:
Playing an assortment of
guitars (assorted acoustic models, but also an electric classical, as well as a
fretless bass and stand-up) as well as some sparse keyboards, Johann Helton
demonstrates a friendly, breezy and immediately likable composing style and
ample artistry and technique in conveying a variety of moods on Songs
Without Words. The eleven tracks on the CD range from the sprightly and
good-natured folksy opener, "Going Home," to the world fusion
sultriness of "Moroccan Roll" (on which Helton is assisted by drummer
Lawson Hill), to the back-alley slyly-winking mysterious "Dangerous
Considerations" (one of my favorites on the CD and another cut where Hill
adds some tasty drum work), to the aptly titled "Quiet Room, Gentle Rain,"
a solo acoustic guitar number and one of the softer and more evocative pieces
on this fine recording.
Whether he is playing
solo and unadorned or multi-tracking a number of different guitars and/or
basses, Helton has excellent taste in arrangements as well as a sure hand in
engineering (the mix and mastering was by Don Cunningham and his skills are
also distinctly evident). If (even after reading the assorted track
descriptions above) you need more evidence for dispelling the notion that Songs
Without Words is your standard homogenous new age guitar record, give a
listen to "There's a Reason," on which Heldon
cuts loose with some fiery jazz licks. "Nocturne (song for my
father)" matches a slinky lead acoustic line with funky upright bass,
suggestive of a private eye skulking down neon-light tinted streets (another
standout cut on the album). "All That (and a bag of chips)" has an
easy-chair-put-your-feet-up relaxed feel to it, somewhere between low key new
age music and smooth jazz, while the closing track, "Love the Day"
ends the album on an upbeat note, featuring rhythm acoustic guitar and fretless
bass in a cheery but relaxed ode to good times.
While the CD's
presentation is modest (black and white photographs gracing the cardboard digipack), the inside photo (of, I imagine, Johann as a
child of about 6) is indicative of the humanity and warmth of the music
contained on the disc itself. This is one of those special contemporary
instrumental albums that I will never tire of, owing to the artist's skill and
virtuosity and the variety of the compositions. Songs Without
Words is an excellent release and I recommend it heartily to acoustic
guitar fans without reservation.
For the full review
Review of Tell
Me A Story in The Daily Vault:
I guess Idaho can produce
something worthwhile other than potatoes. Surprise! Johann Helton wants to tell
you a story. It is one of grace and ease, and taking time to appreciate a more
leisurely life.
Tell
Me A Story is string-driven. No vocals are included. Helton is unrestrained
by convention and exemplifies the capabilities of his stringed instruments -- terz guitar, upright electric bass, classical guitar, and
the 12-string guitar. He has been in the music business for over 30 years,
playing and composing.
Pulling
from various musical inspirations around the world, "A Peer Amid the Ruins" is inventive and original with its
mid-eastern flair. Its colorful nature provokes the imagination. A man of
peace, Helton's gentle heart comes through in the fluttering of his agile
fingers. The strings sing out his love of art and dance on
"Esperanza."
"Walking
Backwards" draws in Helton's humorous side and
combines the lighthearted comedy of the Pink Panther theme with the rock
of "Smoke On The Water." He gives you something fresh and diverse. It
is an odd duet, but the result is very enjoyable. "You've Got Mail"
is another jovial piece and although not my favorite of the CD, it is still a
healthy song.
He
states, in regards to the natural world, "it just
is, and breathes and unfolds." There is a natural flow to life and the
same rings true of this artist's music. It breathes and each piece comes alive
and unfolds a new dimension to his talents. "Easy Livin"
builds on the desire of Helton to have a calming effect on the listener.
Simple
but not simplistic, the title track "Tell Me A
Story" is powerful and compounds my growing appreciation for this
performer. Snapping in a bit of jazz, "Disguise The
Limit" is backed up by Lawson Hill on drums and Benjamin Burdick on
acoustic guitar.
This is a
soothing album, which is Helton's intent. It is best played on nights when you
have time to curl up in front of a fire, or relax with a good book and a glass
of wine. Johann Helton wants us to remember slower, calmer days when life was
simple and simple things were enough.
For the full review
There's
a touch of the mystical to the compositional world of Johann Helton. Apart from
the fine textures and drifting aromas that his mastery of stringed instruments
provides, there's a certain serene, antiquated spirit belying the calm waters
of "Tell Me a Story." It's one that's just as capable of delving into
the dark undergrowth of mysterious terrain as it is unfolding into a sun-kissed
Spanish afternoon.
Making up the foot of the album, for me, it's the charm of these shadier
outings that work best here. Starting off with the Arabian desert feel of
"A Peer Amid the Ruins," Richard Kriehn's
excellent violin conjures up the image of sandy winds passing through a
desolate Middle Eastern town, as Helton uses a terz
guitar (a reconstruction of an instrument popular two hundred years ago in
Europe) to claw away at a whispering percussion. "Walking Backwards,"
meanwhile, mixes shades of dark pink and purple together, as it toys with the
notes of the theme from the Pink Panther through a dynamic comparable to a
jazzy interpolation of "Smoke on the Water."
Typifying Helton's gift for Latin-flavoured pieces,
the likes of "Barcelona," "Say
You Will," and "Esperanza" warm proceedings nicely with a sound
that wouldn't be out of place in the hills of South
America. However, the final element to Tell Me a Story's triad is
a decidedly more intimate, softer slant on things. For instance, the opening
melody to "Song for My Mother" is an absolutely sublime moment, and
one telling of Helton's general artistic approach. Although it passes away
teasingly, its simple, shimmering little step is like a vessel of coloured water that the guitarist uses to dab his brush
with before venturing off onto the canvas once more.
Although the tranquillity of "Tell Me a
Story" will certainly prove alluring to many, one must keep in mind that,
by nature, most instrumental music runs the risk of taking a place in the
background as an incidental soundtrack. As a multi-instrumentalist folk veteran
(a member of The Original Highwaymen and a collaborator with the likes of
Pavarotti and The Kingston Trio), Helton's newest release comprises a
collection of vocal-less acoustic works, a foray into carefully layered,
intricate acoustic storytelling. After the snappy jazz work of "Disguise
the Limit," the sleepy feel to "Heart So Wide" gives you the
impression that "Tell Me a Story" would make an excellent
accompaniment to an afternoon siesta - something to unfurl and wind down with.
For the full review
Review of Tell Me A Story at Bridge Guitar
Reviews:
Based in Boise, Idaho, in the USA, Johann
Helton is a well-known guitarist for over 30 years. He plays on a lot of
guitars & basses and recently he uses a terz
guitar too, which is also used in many tunes on this album. A terz guitar is tuned a third higher than a standardguitar and is also smaller and has an expressive
voice. Johann is assisted on this album by Richard Kriehn
(mandolin and violin) and Ben Burdick on guitar and slide guitar. Johann Helton
has performed with Luciano Pavarotti, Nancy Griffith among
others. Helton is a roots player and is a specialist on nylon-string guitars.
The opening track, A
Peer Amid the Ruins has a Middle Eastern atmosphere which one often can
listen to in Greece
which embodies a lot of romance. Helton
is able to compose and perform in many genres, like folk, jazz, Latin and
Spanish music like on Ezperanza and Barcelona. On Song
for My Mother he plays a lovely intimate ballad with additional
guitar, bass and drums. Walking Backwards is piece with a setup with the
Pink Panther theme and a mix of Smoke on the Water which sounds
extremely well with the slide guitar used. Tell Me a Story the title track
goes back in time to the minstrels in an absorbing composition. Watercolor Rain, an absorbing ballad which faces intimacy
and serenity. Johann Helton is a fantastic guitarist and composer and a
creator of touching songs.
For the full review
Review of Tell
Me A Story from Minor7th.com
Idahoan Johann
Helton plays various steel and nylon string guitars, the terz
guitar (tuned a third higher than standard) and basses. His approach is calming
and very musical without resorting to flashy techniques. Helton performs live
primarily as a solo guitarist and also plays bass for several groups. Several
other musicians assist him on this CD, including Ben Burdick (guitar and slide
guitar), Richard Kriehn (mandolin and violin) and
Lawson Hill (drums). Some more noteworthy pieces include the originals
"Say You Will," "Talking Wind," "Watercolor
Rain," "Easy Livin'," "Disguise
the Limit" and Roy Acuff's "The Precious
Jewel." On the closer, "Heart So Wide," Helton plays lead on his
upright bass with backing from his own 12-string and bass guitars. There is a
muted quality to many performances on "Tell Me A
Story" and I wonder if Helton has suppressed some of his technical and
interpretive abilities in favor of producing effective ensemble arrangements.
That said, this CD should please Johann Helton's regional audience and give him
an opportunity to reach more listeners. © Patrick Ragains
For the full review
