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Andy Polon

Grading System A=Awesome B=Beautiful C=Could be
better D=Don't quit your day job E=Enough already
F=Flush it,Forget it,#%$ it.

NEW YORK ON 6 STRINGS A DAY

Andy Polon,a name your not soon to forget."Talent" must be his middle name,because he's loaded with it.
Andy calls New York City home,and in the 70's was a well known coffee house performer.He took his learnin' in country blues and ragtime guitar from Reverend Gary Davis.He's also studied jazz,rock,and
classical guitar and has become quite proficient in all genres.Andy now performs extensively throughout
the Northeast US and Great Britain as well as a good section of Western Europe.

Andy spends a good part of his performing time in ensembles as well as solo.He's performed with numerous bands,and done substantial studio work.He's also accompanied some well known artists as Mary Travers(of Peter,Paul,and Mary)and Raun Mackinnon.
Andy also teaches guitar and more info can be found
here.

NEW YORK ON 6 STRINGS A DAY

TRACK 1
Tribute To Dave Van Ronk
"Van Ronk arrangements from the 60's,when I was one of his students."

The "Good Old Wagon" rendition with the two added jazz chords is a tight arrangement with some great vocals.This classic Bessie Smith blues tune has some great riffs with exceptional depth.Nice transition into the Van Ronk "Careless Love" that shows Dave's Jimmy Yancey influence,with Lonnie Johnson lyrics.You can also feel a lot of emotion in Andy's vocals and in his playing.I just wonder if Lyle Lovett picked up any pointers from this song too.Then we flow into one of Van Ronk's greatest arrangements,"Come Back Baby", a widely admired song.Andy brings forth some emotional feeling to the song,as well as some fantastic jazzed up delta blues guitar work.(A+++)

Chris:What an amazing complex blues composition! This captures the real essence of the genre with soulful lyrics and phenomenal dynamic playing.A lot of players strive their whole life to play on a level of this caliber.(A++++)

TRACK 2
Pallet On Your Floor
"I added some words,and somehow wound up playing it in two keys."

Andy sure knows how to get the joint jumpin'.This sound is making a strong comeback in the music bizz.
Swingin' on the dance floor to this Andy Polon rendition is absolute heaven.Great pickin' and tremendous vocal range makes this a sure winner.Andy just keeps pumping them out.(A+++)

Chris:Andy has some lightning fast fingers on this one! Almost has a bluegrass feel to it.It is definitely the powerful vocals that drive this song. Even though the guitar playing is still very good.(A++)

TRACK 3
Waterfall
"Close your eyes and float downstream with me on this one..."

Great finger picking that is reminiscent of Jose Feliciano,and even the vocals have some semblance. Andy puts so much of himself into a song that the song ends up flooding you with pure emotion.(A++)

Chris:Another song showcasing Andy's fast experienced fingers.This number is very strange.He uses fast articulate arpeggio's with very sad,diminished minor chords and slow soft vocals.Very original.(A+++)

TRACK 4
Andy's Augmented Rag
or,"'How many jazz chords does it take to stuff a phone booth?'The song that pops up in the middle was inspired by W C Handy."

This is pure American music through and through.Andy can now take his place along side the greats like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.Astounding guitar playing using all types of brawny chord progressions.
The vocals are excellent with articulated lyrics.(A++)

Chris:Wow!He really likes to play these difficult, ragtime style pieces.And what an amazing job he does with them! I just wish this song had a little more dynamic range,but it is still a top notch performance.(B++)

TRACK 5
No-Profit Rag
"Penned this in '94 while working for a non-profit.
They were right-it never pays..."

I can certainly see profits coming from this jewel. It's not often that I come across a guitarist of this caliber.This is an enchanting melody that takes you on an esoteric jaunt.(A+++)

Chris:This track is nice laid back blues rag.It really does a nice job of keeping your attention.I couldn't stop day-dreaming about hot lazy summer days while I was listening.(A+)

TRACK 6
Just Because Of You
"Tight budget? You can do a lot with just a D-chord..."

It's absolutely true that some can do a lot with a D-chord,E-chord,C-chord,etc.,but can they do it right.To say that this song is done right,does not do the tune justice.This is a really superb orginal piece of wonderment unparalleled by any.(A+++)

Chris:The lyrics of this number do a good job of explaining the way he feels about someone close to him.His guitar provides a nice soothing,underlying background.(A++)

TRACK 7
Parisian Rag
"Behave yourself overseas! This could happen to you."

It's nice to see that Andy has more in his bag of tricks,a constant one man extravaganza.Not only great musically,but also pretty darn funny.A truly amazing entertainer.(A++)

Chris:This rag is very true to it's style.It has cool story-like,jazzed up vocals.And,of course,the amazing guitar work that is the heart and soul of the album.(A++)

TRACK 8
New St.James Infirmary
"More new verses add some twists to this classic barroom jazz-blues."

Andy's guitar playing still continues to amaze me,and his vocal abilities are electrifying.I loved the added lyrics,a solid plus to an exceptional tune.(A+++)

Chris:Slow,jazzy blues provide the flavor for this tune. Andy shows that he is also an accomplished vocalist with some dynamic singing,as well as a guitarist.I really like his use of octaves with the guitar on the blues runs.(A++++)

TRACK 9
Circular Rag
"Again,it took me two keys to get this one working.."

The use of the two keys is what makes this song unique and appealing.It's hard to beleive that only one guitarist can accomplish this without overdubs. The sound is full with such breadth.Very well thought out lyrics.(A++)

Chris:This song is very similar to track 7.Except that the vocals are mostly story-like and not jazzed up.This has a very upbeat witty feel to it.Very original with variety.(A+++)

TRACK 10
Indian Summer
"Still one of my favorite instrumentals"

This is an extremely original song that screams out for "radio air-play"! I couldn't hear any of the earlier influences,this one gave only Andy Polon vibes.Beautiful melody line with a multitude of progressions,all to bring the song to an ecstatic plateau.(A++++)

Chris:This is another instrumental that gives you the sense of summer days.This has some very complex chord changes and hammering techniques.This track shows the variety of the CD.(A+)

TRACK 11
Home Grown Lovin'
"I wrote this the year I was hoping to wake up Mose Allison"

I loved the bass line riff that Andy does on this tune.This has a sing along melody line,with a very nice musical interlude in the middle.I played this song over and over.It got me going in the morning, and was a great pick-me up tune in the PM.Give it a listen!!(A++++)

Chris:Its amazing that this guy can sing and play these tough parts at the same time.He uses lots of syncopation with his vocals and his playing.Of course,typical to this style(blues),but usually with two people,not one person.Amazing.(A+++)

TRACK 12
Come On In(ain't nobody here but me!)
"From Georgia Tom(before he converted)"

I've heard this tune done by a great many other artists,but none to date have reached the level of musicianship that Andy has.To create such a fantastic production without the use of studio gadgetry is a valiant endeavor.To pull it off as well as Andy does is truly astonishing.(A+++)

Chris:Very original sounding song.I like his use of the guitar to play in unison with his voice on select parts of the song.Just one of the many reasons to buy this CD.(A+++)

TRACK 13
Man Of Constant Sorrow
"A great arrangement Ronnie Herman played in high school."

A pretty song that Andy does very well.It just seemed a little too main-stream to be on this album.It appeared to me to be a filler for an empty slot.The weakest song on the album.(B)

Chris:Nice,soft ballad.Excellent vocals on this number.This song is lacking dynamics.It loses your interest quickly.Definitely the weakest song on the album.(B)

TRACK 14
St.Louis Tickle
"Never had any words,as far as I know.Now it does."

Now this one has more of the Andy Polon hook to it. Great guitar playing with many frills tossed in for added flavor.The lyrics add to the song accenting what was already a superior number.(A++++)

Chris:What an intro.It runs a little long but it is a cool concept.I like his use of well-placed slides troughout the song.(A)

Chris' overall impression of the CD:

Andy is definitely one of the most talented guitarist I have ever heard.You can tell that he has been playing for a while.This CD has variety to an extent. He plays some blues,ragtime and ballads.Pretty much in that same looped order throughout the CD.But,don't get me wrong the CD is still amazing.Especially when you hear the syncopated voice and guitar playing different rhythms.It blows my mind.An excellent CD that all serious music lovers should have in their collection.(A++)

My overall impression of the CD:
This is an excellent CD that can serve to entertain,
educate,and elaborate on what one man with his guitar can accomplish.The ragtime jazz blues sound has been around for a long time,and if we have musicians like Andy Polon carry on the art,will be around for future generations to enjoy.Andy has put a lot of himself into this production.You can play this CD while kicking back at home,or you can play it at a party to liven up a dull get together.
As Andy puts in his closing on the album,"Want to live in New York on 6 strings a day? Stay home and practice.Works for me!".It certainly has worked for him,but unfortunately practice will not bring forth to all,the same result.Talent is most certainly a contibuting factor,and I'm sure you'll agree,Andy has a bushel full of talent.
Pick up the CD,because to pass this one up is almost, Un-American!!(A+++)

So until next time keep your eyes on the road,your ears on the tunes,and keep in touch with us...Donna

Andy Polon/ADP Records
237 E. 26th St.(5H)
New York,New York 10010
(212)725-1853
VISIT ANDY'S WEBSITE

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