The Guitar Player's Resource
Normally, only guitar-oriented CDs are highlighted in the Undiscovered column, and upon first listen to Chris Hattingh's debut solo CD, Music For A World That's Burned, you would guess it to be a world/new age instrumental release by a keyboard player. Then you hit track 3, "Arena" and hear the Santana-esqe guitar work and furious soloing, and decide to investigate further. Turns out, Hattingh used only three instruments on the record--guitar, guitar synth and drum machine. All of what one would expect was keyboard work (horns, waves, bass, strings) was done so that Hattingh could show what was possible with a guitar synth. He describes the music on Music For A World That's Burned as 'experimental guitar synth instrumentals', so the music varies wildly from keyboard sounding ('Funq II", "I Remember John", "January") to blazing guitar pieces (the metallic "Gassical Class") and some in between (the fusiony "Full Bloom"). When the guitar sound is allowed to come through, Hattingh's picking ability and songwriting chops would satisfy any six-string fanatic.
Chris has studied drums, classical guitar and tympani in South Africa, and studied music at places including the University of Natal and Berklee College of Music. As a testament to his musical versatility, he was voted best drummer at the Los Angeles Hotel "Battle of the Bands" in 1976 and was the 4th place winner in Kahler Tremolo Systems national guitar contest in 1986. Chris has since appeared on recordings by Bob Jones, Dan Radcliff, Corporal Punishment, Larry Mitchell, The Rayons, Ruscha, Killer Dudes, Grease Dragons and his own solo CD release.
Hattingh's goal is to release music into the world which emphasizes beauty and harmony (and skill) in order to assist in setting a new standard for popular music.
Chris Hattingh
TGIF Studios
4668 N. Friday Circle
Cocoa, FL 32926
United States
Web site: www.tgif-studios.com