Melding an array of genres, this album features virtuoso guitar playing that is elegantly adept and passionately soulful. The 12-track disk includes styles that range from Latin jazz and Spanish guitar to western, gypsy, and flamenco.
A relaxing musical salve, Reno del Mar has laid down tracks that take you right out of your head. Captivating, chill out guitar instrumentals by Mark Wilsey and Phil Lipman are lightly punctuated by Jeff Rodenkirch's bass and drums by Dave Walton. The guitars take the intimate center stage with gorgeous notes deftly crafted by two friends who have been playing music together (on-and-off) for over 30 years.
Originally from New Jersey, Wilsey and Lipman both hold a music degree - which means that Wilsey is a captain with the Tucson Fire Department and Lipman earns his bread as a property owner and landlord. "I say I am a janitor, it's not that far from being true," Lipman half-joked in an email.
According to their website, the duo started gigging out again three years ago. Lipman says they have been playing at several of their favorite venues in town, such as Kingfisher, Bluefin, Hacienda del Sol and Maynards.
Since the CD came out in February 2008, it has received some rather cool distinctions such as airplay on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and going to space.
Yes, as in outer space. NASA astronaut Mark E. Kelly took the CD aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in June 2008, for the shuttle's mission to the International Space Station.While in orbit, astronaut Kelly took pictures of Reno del Mar's disk floating in front of a window with planet Earth in the background.
As it turns out, Kelly and his wife, U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, are fans of the band - which also played the couple's wedding.
"We had no idea that these pictures had been taken until Gabby showed up at my door with them one Sunday," Lipman said in an email, "fairly astounding."
In December, Reno del Mar perform
at Maynards the 18th, Kingfisher the 26th and Plush the
28th. Check out their songs at www.RenodelMar.com.
