Untold Stories
Self-Released, 2024
10/10
The Manhattan native and guitarist Benji Kaplan turns in an album of all originals, where the stories are told in guitar and reference locations like New York, Brazil and the backlands of Minas Gerais.
The flowing title track starts the 9 songs with a very warm spirit, as Kaplan’s progressions are nothing short of mesmerizing, and “Xaxado em Alegria” follows with the meticulous playing making for melodic and exciting gestures.
Halfway through, “Streams, Hills And Forests” is so detailed, it rarely seems like just one guitar, while “An East Side Story” comes with plenty of culture radiating from his instrument that’s rich with color.
Close to the end, “Stride And True” is full of dreamy ideas via Kaplan’s finger acrobatics and strong attention to mood, and “The Vigilante” exits with a cozy, minimal approach of fluid, timeless skills.
Complicated and expressive, but with a global appeal, Kaplan’s wizardry with a guitar makes every moment here captivating.
Travels well with: Albare- Beyond Belief; Ron Rieder- The Latin Jazz Sessions