Greg Gilbertson

Greg's style of guitar playing is one of the most difficult to play, yet he does it with such technical prowess and spiritual emotion. This album has warmth and is entertaining to listen to. It makes me want to fire up the coffee pot and sit and enjoy Greg's fine artistry. I'm not only impressed with him as a musician, but as a brother in Christ.-Doyle Dykes_______________________________________________________ _______ I've made my living as a songwriter. I've been at it for 20 years and through about 25 albums. Every once in a spell you come across an artist like Greg Gilbertson. A total package deal. Someone with an artist's heart and an artist's vision. That means someone who takes risks; What Gilbertson does with a guitar is what great lyricists strive to do with words; Sure, Gilbertson has the "chops," the technique. But what Greg really does is give you, the listener, a gift. By placing the emphasis of his playing on a sensitive and informed melodicism, Greg, opens and expands songs to the point where the listener is enabled to bring his or her own story to the music. What does Gilbertson do? He opens and enlarges people's spirits. The ability to offer such a gift in soundscape is, in my opinion, nothing short of brilliant.--Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love) ____________________________________________________________ __Most fingerstyle guitar players bowl you over with their chops and call it a day. While Greg is certainly no slouch when it comes to technique what sets him apart is his gift for composition. The stories he tells with melody and arrangement are more compelling than the stories most writers tell with entire dictionaries at their disposal. One day I'll be able to tell my kids I played with Greg Gilbertson.-Joe Pug ____________________________________________________________ __Greg Gilbertson is a poet whose medium is music on a guitar rather than words on paper. His guitar sounds wide open, the simple yet uncommon melodies supported by great harmonies and bass lines. Greg’s formidable chops are devoted to his honest compositional voice and his commitment to communication through music.-Dan Bliss, 2005 2nd place winner and 2007 3rd place winner, International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, Walnut Valley Festival, Winfiels KS__________________________________________________________ ____Often compared to guitar greats Willy Porter and Michael Hedges, Greg will amaze you with his finger stylings. Imagine someone speaking in a different language and you completely understand what he’s saying. That’s how Greg approaches the voicings of the guitar. If you yourself are a guitar player , come down and get a different viewpoint.-Jeff White_______________________________________________________ _______Playing for over 16 years, Greg has entertained audiences...exposing many to his brand of acoustic finger-style guitar. The influences of great musicians such as Billy McLaughlin, Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, and Don Ross, is evident but not overpowering. Greg's stubborn creativity, that compels him to continually venture into new techniques, rythms, and textures, leaves his audiences speachless.-Volume One_________________________________________________________ _____GREG GILBERTSON is probably one of the most talented and entertaining guitarist I've seen in my life. He is something to behold, with his unique finger-style playing of the guitar. Like having a 3 man band wrapped up into just 2 hands, gifted is an understatement for this guy. You just have to watch a video of this guy to get the full dynamic and appreciation of his abilities. Full of emotion and passion, he conveys his thoughts without words, and creates a story with just his instrument. Can't say enough good things about this guy. You just have to check it out for yourself.-CD Review______________________________________________________ _________Greg Gilbertson who is living in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin just released his CD “Limited Vocabulary”. Greg has played guitar for over 16 years and got his inspiration from finger-style players like Don Ross, Billy McLaughlin and the late Michael Hedges, to name a few. Greg's guitar style skills consists of as well slapping as tapping techniques with rich percussion and walking bass lines. His music is not overpowering but rather intimate and challenging. “Limited Vocabulary” consists of 11 tracks, which surely impress a listener, as on “The Woodshedder” which has a lot in common with Billy Mc- Laughlin's song “Fingerdance”. “Beyond What's Left” has a soothing and moody setup with a deep constant bass line. “Fidelity” has a some more uplifting elements, although it's a moody song. “Rite of Passage” is full of percussive elements with a touching melody line. “Eulogy for a Drunk Man” is a wonderful ballad with a fine structure and balance. “Dirt Road” is a very fast penning with brilliant chord changes with superb killer chops. The last track of this album, “At Hours End” is a passionate ballad with a poetic structure, just as he is painting the tones on a canvas. Greg Gilbertson is without any doubt a superb acoustic guitarist who draws from his inner force, his heart, and gives a listener space for introspection. A wonderful gift.-Henk te Veldhuis, Bridge Guitar Reviews (http://www.xs4all.nl/~guitars/december2007.html) © 2007________________________________________________________ ______Greg Gilbertson plays six and 12-string guitars in altered tunings and composed all of the music on this disc. Critics have compared him to Don Ross, Leo Kottke, Billy McLaughlin and Michael Hedges. For me, Gilbertson's strongest suit is his striking and original emphasis on melody, incorporated into the percussive approach typified by his influences. The opener, "First Light," illustrates this approach, with Gilbertson using a chorus effect to fatten his tone. Gilbertson writes in the liner notes that "Esox Fables" reminds him of fishing for muskie, which would have to be the most frantic fishing trip ever! "Fidelity" features a more natural tone, yet, even without noticeable processing, Gilbertson's melody happily remains in the forefront. A bluegrass feel characterizes "Dirt Roads," which brings to mind a 5-string banjo and fiddle trading licks. The CD closes with "At Hour's End," evoking a lullaby at the end of a summer day. Gilbertson is a good composer and I'm anxious to hear him experiment with different tones, contrasting tempos, and bring other instruments into his arrangements, although his existing strengths should serve him well regardless of the path he takes. -© Patrick Ragains (Minor7th.com)