A review by Shane Speal
Cigar Box Guitar and classical music meet again after 150 years!
Legend has it, in the middle of 19th century, there were musicians who performed classical pieces on homemade instruments such as Cigar Box Guitar. Unfortunately, there are no records of these unique
performances.
So what does classical music of the Renaissance sound like on cigar box guitar?
Hailing from Moscow, Russia, Evgeny Nemov, aka "Captain Nemoff" released an album that answers that question...and it's one of the best albums I've ever listened to. Das Wohltemperirte Cigar Box Guitar (translated: The Well Tempered Cigar Box Guitar) is a download album available on CDBaby that mixes brilliant classical playing with the lo-fi ethos of the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution.
Nemoff starts off the album quietly, with a soft acoustic rendition of Albinoni's Adiago in G minor that eventually morphs into primal territory with an electric slide CBG (!) solo. Oh how I love to hear the unfiltered sounds of trashy cigar boxes playing classical! He covers a lot of the standards including Fur Elise and Greensleeves, mixing several homemade instruments together in beautifully layered pieces.
My brain nearly exploded Nemoff kicked in some massive foot stomping bass drum in the Celtic wedding song, Ev Chistr 'Ta, Laou! This is rock and roll from another era.
Nemoff deeply considers and arranges with a mindset that only a cigar box guitarist could possess.
Perfectly ending the album, Nemoff delivers Shubert's Ave Maria in acoustic majesty, at first picking out single note leads and then mandolin-style tremolo picking. It put tears in my eyes.
This is a masterpiece album.
Wait...I'll take it a step further. In my honest opinion, this is one of the greatest cigar box guitar albums in the history of the modern movement. Not only is Nemoff an incredible guitarist with one foot in the classical tradition, but he's also got one foot firmly in the cigar box guitar ethos... mixing lo-fi acoustic and electric tones brilliantly in each piece.
My heart is overjoyed as I listen to this album.
Buy the download of this album. Buy it today. Blast it in your woodshops. Play it in the house. This is one for the ages. 5 stars.
Das Wohltemperirte Cigar Box Guitar
by Captain Nemoff - $9.99 download at CDBaby
Tags:
Welcome to Russia!
MANY Thanks , Shane!!!
I'm on my way to CDBaby quick as my one finger typing will take me!
Yup, just finished listening to most of the download. Inspiring and intimidating all at the same time!
I listened to it twice today, start to finish. Auld Lang Syne and Ave Maria got me all verklempt.
indeed !
Well played and well produced. Kudos!
Great promotion Shane he deserves ever word you said. And don't forget he is an exceptional builder.
Good to see this site supporting other players
This album if incredible. Thanks for giving it the attention it deserves; primitive and classical, the way it should be. Any chance you can get this guy over to PA for next year?
That is Brilliant!
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods yesterday. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray on Monday. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Brad in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 19. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Jacob Shook in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 10 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!