Recording: Harris Newman

Artist: Harris Newman

Song: The Wherewithal

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Kurt Newman Presents: Newman Guitars), April 10, 2025.

Harris Newman - The Wherewithal

Although well-known to musicians and liner-note-gazers as a prolific mastering engineer these days, Montréaler Harris Newman has a lengthy rock resume, both in several Constellation-adjacent groups (including the very tasty Sackville, where he played briefly alongside this night's host Kurt Newman) but also in his Fahey-esque solo output. Recently making a return to the live stage after a lengthy absence, it was the latter that was being revisited here, but the deft technique and hypnotic fingerpicking on display revealed no signs of rust or neglect.

Recording: Kurt Newman

Artist: Kurt Newman

Song: Leather Britches [traditional]

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Kurt Newman Presents: Newman Guitars), April 10, 2025.

Kurt Newman - Leather Britches

The keen-eyed might note that Kurt Newman's returning Tranzac residency is now listed as "Kurt Newman Presents Post-Bluegrass Bluegrass" rather than "Cosmic Country for Communists" — probably an indication of Newman's deeper delving into the old-timey stuff (and a friendlier invite to the post-Strangetooth crowd) rather than any indication of ideological deviancy. More specifically, though, this night was billed as "Newman guitars", offering solo sets from K.N. (picking out some fiddle tunes on his guitar) as well as Montréal confrère Harris Newman.

Recording: Patrick O'Reilly

Artist: Patrick O'Reilly

Song: [first section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Patrick O'Reilly - [first section]

It turns out that the use case Patrick O'Reilly has found for his microtonal guitar is slow-moving and swelling, inspired by gnawa music. Coming from another angle, this piece was also inspired by Albert Ayler, whose voice is heard in the repeated interview fragment.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's second half) over on youtube:

Recording: Dan Pitt

Artist: Dan Pitt

Song: [3rd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Dan Pitt - [3rd piece]

Dan Pitt brought some delicately-spacious pieces for his set, exploring some terrain similar to his solo compositions.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's second half) over on youtube:

Recording: Kayla Milmine

Artist: Kayla Milmine

Song: [first section]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Kayla Milmine - [first section]

There were no unorthodox mouth-tubes or other alterations to Kayla Milmine's soprano sax this time out, but being the lone non-guitar player for the evening made her sounds more than distinctive enough.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's second half) over on youtube:

Recording: Christine Bougie

Artist: Christine Bougie

Song: [2nd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Christine Bougie - [2nd piece]

Some characteristically-excellent work from Christine Bougie here, both on a beatifully-tender ballad for electric guitar and this bit of gorgeousness for lap steel.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's first half) over on youtube:

Recording: Thom Gill

Artist: Thom Gill

Song: [3rd piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Thom Gill - [3rd piece]

It's a rarity to get to see Thom Gill playing solo improvised guitar — and perhaps unprecidented to see him jamming on the Casio DG-10, gleefully shredding with several synthesized tones, including (as heard here) the GLOCKEN setting.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's first half) over on youtube:

Recording: Kurt Newman

Artist: Kurt Newman

Song: [1st piece]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Kurt Newman presents: an evening of cool solos), July 16, 2024.

Kurt Newman - [1st piece]

Kurt Newman assembled this night of short solo sets, mostly for guitar, and lead off with some of his own concepts, including this piece exploring contrary motion.

You can check out some more from this set (and the rest of the evening's first half) over on youtube: