I’ve been following California based musician Ernesto Diaz-Infante since the early Aural Innovations days. Ernesto can always be counted on for a very different musical setting, due in no small part to his multiple collaborations with musicians of varying stripes. In fact, I think this might only be the second solo effort of his I have, the previous one being the Solus set of piano solos from 2000.
wistful entrance, wistful exit is a solo acoustic 12 string set, featuring three 15 minute guitar meditations. The music is minimal, melodic, and subtle. I wouldn’t call it dreamy, though it has a somber yet peaceful quality. I noticed in the promo sheet that Ernesto conceived of these pieces during a period of time when he was dealing with a death in the family and was temporarily left alone, and I pictured the musician playing away with his thoughts to himself. The acoustics of the room are important to this recording, as the sustain of each strum lingers, creating a hypnotic atmosphere that makes this just as much a set of ambient music as it is contemplative solo acoustic guitar. Pleasant… trance inducing…
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wistful entrance, wistful exit is available for $8 postpaid in the U.S. and $11 postpaid everywhere else. Paypal to: django5772@yahoo.com
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz