José De Castro

‘Music Guitar Box’ – guitar fever ...

Last year, bluedesert.dk wrote about José de Castro, or ’Jopi’ among friends – a most unusual Spanish guitar dude... Now, he’s back – and this time even more spectacular. ’Music Guitar Box’ features LA top players Simon Phillips on drums (TOTO) and Melvin Lee Davis on bass (Chaka Khan and Lee Ritenour). Quite amazing work again from our Latin guitar fever friend, Jopi ...  

By Sune Schack, bluedesert.dk

Jopi – you better get used to his name! Awesome Madrid-based guitar sound and mind-blowing techniques – surely, not everyday stuff in today’s music world full of non-musicians, MTV crap – here today, gone tomorrow...

With ’Music Guitar Box’, Jopi shows us his magic sound, and why he’s defin itely here tomorrow – and the day after tomorrow for that matter. A journey into sound and guitar passion. No doubt that Jopi’s heart beats for quality music – and luckily for us all, also for west coast music. On his first album ’Un poco de lo mío’, we described him as a standout virtuoso with roots VERY similar to Hendrix and Lukather... And sure, his influences derive from Hendrix & Luke, but hey, Jopi has his own style in between the masters – with a twist of heavy-fusion, rock ’n’ roll and west coast and even 70s fusion funk.

Simon Phillips plays 3 tracks on the CD: ’Hot sounds’ (track 2), ’Thousand words’ (track 7) and ’Bites’ (track 9). Simon’s playing speaks for itself, waste of time describing his techniques, he’s Simon Phillips, right? However, what’s really more important is the REAL MUSIC and RESPECT that stars like Simon and Melvin get when they participate in projects like this ... No big budget, no prima donna stuff – just playing for time, showing us all what music is really about!

Melvin Lee Davis takes care of the bottom (bass) line – bass on all tracks of this CD – and after listening to his grooves, you’ll know why Melvin’s 5 & 7 strings bass playing is world-class. Melvin is Melvin – Mr. Tight .... high and low, he’s all over the place – and never muddy. Fantastic!

Let’s not forget the Spanish drummer, Maurizio Sgaramella, playing on 5 tracks – he’s a pretty remarkable drummer too – also featured on Jopi’s last CD. Standout track is without doubt no. 5 ’Tic, tac, time’ – funky syncopated stuff, great tune – and love that beat and bass, Maurizio/Melvin... yeh!

Enzo Filippone plays drums on 2 tracks – and Denis Bilanin keys on all tracks, nice work...!       

Jopi – that’s a great CD, man! Like Guitar 9 wrote: “Jose de Castro, is a fifty-minute, all-instrumental affair filled with the kinds of songs you wish you could play – but 'cha better keep practicing, since José is twelve riffs ahead.”

I totally agree... and hopefully, many true music lovers and bluedesert.dk readers will support your CD – NOT only because Simon Phillips and Melvin Lee Davis are on it – but because it’s a rare piece of work – made in EU – starring a great guitar player...!

Listen and learn more at: www.josedecastro.net  Buy ’Music Guitar Box’ here: www.guitar9.com/guitarmusicbox.html

José De Castro -
Un Poco De Lo Mío
"Brilliant album from Jopi" The Tracks are: Entre los dedos, Pasión, Luz, La mejor casa, Pasos en las cuerdas, Entrando en la noche, Fiesta funk, Tornado, Mar de tranquilidad.
Musicians on the 'un poco de lo mío' album: José De Castro, Manu Rey, Alfredo Serrano, Alex García, Oscar Morgado, Esther Gonzáles, Maurizio Sqaramella, Yrvis Méndez, Luca Germini. Available from: Didactica Musical, S.L./Original release year: © 2001

José De Castro -
Music Guitar Box
"2nd album from José De Castro" The Tracks are: Atmosphere, Hot Sounds, I’m Heavy, Near You, Tic Tac Time, When She Walks, Thousand Words, The Crazy Chicken, Bites & Free Soul.
Musicians on the Music Guitar Box album: José de Castro, Melvin Lee Davis, Simon Phillips, Maurizio Sgaramella, Enzo Filippone & Denis Bilanin. Available from: Jopilines Records/Original release year: © 2004

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