MVP "Centrifugal Funk"

Recently reissued by Tone Center for 2004, this 1991 Legato Records release of MVP (The Mark Varney Project), "Centrifugal Funk", displays a warning, "Contains guitar performances of unparalleled speed, taste and virtuosity. Not for the faint of heart!" The lead guitar performances spoken about in such glowing terms are turned in by none other than Brett Garsed (lead guitar), Shawn Lane (lead guitar) and Frank Gambale (lead guitar). Mark Varney and Jimmy Earl produced the album of eight instrumentals, two of which ("Love Struck" and "So What", both clocking in at over eight minutes) feature all three gutiarists. The album also features Mike O'Neill on rhythm guitar, Steve Tavaglione on sax, Freddy Ravel on keyboards, Jimmy Earl on bass (he takes a solo on "So What"), Joey Heredia on drums and Kevin Ricard on percussion. T.J. Helmerich also makes an appearance on guitar, cuttiing the first solo on "Love Struck". Mesmerizing, extreme, attention-grabbing, aggressive, thrilling - all have been used to describe the music on "Centrifugal Funk" - and, like it's companion record "Truth In Shredding", recommended for fans ranging from fusion to progressive to jazz.