Lyle Workman
Uncommon Measures
(Blue Canoe)
8/10
By Decibel Report


With an ongoing career as a sideman, session guitarist, and film composer, Lyle Workman is clearly as industrious as his surname suggests. Armed with a versatile pedigree working with an eclection of artists from Jellyfish, Beck and Sting to Frank Black and Todd Rundgren, it comes as no surprise that there's a broad spectrum of styles on these all instrumental tracks collected together on this uncommonly entrancing album.

Stepping out from his duties to others on this imaginative solo record, it's the freedom of infinite space to create and choose material and musical direction without any constraints that Workman exploits to inventive levels of cultured expertise.

Citing The Beatles, Genesis, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, Debussy, and Ravel as formative influences, Workman has crafted sonic sculptures of career-defining instrumental musical mood movements throughout this entire album

Four years in the making, Vinnie Colaiuta’s tumble of drums finally opens this album's release as Workman gracefully glides in with a glorious indulgence of guitar on North Star. Orchestral passages and tempo changes herald this recording's modus operandi of exquisitely executed musical ideas.

It's an album of guitar lead compositions reminding of other elite musicians Steve Hackett, Jeff Beck, and Al Di Meola in particular. In fact, there's more chops on display here than a butcher's freezer only with the warmth of somebody playing from the heart as Workman brings the fire of passion and the ice of cool to his playing style.

Luxuriant orchestration, delivered by a 63-piece orchestra playing live at Abbey Road, is beautifully arranged bringing a cinematic experience to these alluring adventures in sound. A case in point being Noble Savage with its undeniable Allan Holdsworth/Di Meola guitar influences taken to lofty audio heights by the worthwhile extravagance of this elite orchestration.

Elsewhere, Arc Of Life resonates with a softer, gentler approach. Imaginary World cleverly conjures up a riff reminiscent of Happy The Man before breaking into an angular jazz-rock solo and stunning free form all round musicianship.

This dizzying and immersive album of no little inspired virtuosity undoubtedly possesses a heady waft of musical ingredients that takes time to fully digest. Uncommon Measures rewards the listener on repeated play. A long player in its full and truest meaning.