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Paul Wertico: StereoNucleosis

By Jerry D'Souza
April 20, 2004
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First came the nucleus. Then came the overdubs, sixty times over in some cases. Then came the music, which in the final analysis was well worth the time and the intent. Paul Wertico has created discreet music that goes a long way in satisfaction, and it’s all in stereo too. If one may get away with a quibble, “You Can Get There From Here” doesn’t quite do so with the multiple rhythms nestling too close together to be distinct. That said and done, it’s time to tootle on.

Wertico has played with several musicians, including yup, Pat Metheny, but also Von Freeman, Larry Coryell, Jerry Goodman and Kurt Elling, all good for varied experience. He has led groups, bringing to them his own musical vision. With all this in the mix, voila! ...the ingredients for another musical travelogue.

Looking for some “Corner Conversation”? Wertico beckons on drums and percussion, setting up a tantalizing rhythm that explodes in overdubs, but this is fine as the bass thunders, the percussion kicks out the jams and sways provocatively. Whew! The heat is transported to “We Needed the Rain,” where the musical landscape is widened to bring in John Moulder, who uses the guitar synth to pour out the bubbly notes and the electric guitar to take extended melodic lines and bend them.

There ain’t on country music on “Twisted Hoedown”; perhaps that’s why it’s twisted. Instead, this is gut rock. The bass thunder of Brian Peters, the pyrotechnics and feedback of Moulder and a whole caboodle of trenchant drumming recall the halcyon days of heavy metal. But country music does come “Down on the Farm” with handclaps to boot, even if it is for all of 86 seconds! The band can get quiet too. “What Would the World Be” is a resplendent ballad, an attractive calm amidst the tempest.

Wertico sure does cook on this one!

Visit A440 Music on the web.

Track Listing

Corner Conversation; We Needed the Rain; Somewhere in Between; Desert Sky; First, Bass; The Eleventh Hour; You Can Get There From Here; What Would the World Be; 30 dBs Below Zero; Almost Sixteen; Down And Out On The Farm; Twisted Hoedown

Personnel

Paul Wertico

drums

John Moulder

guitar

Brian Peters

bass

Eric Hochberg

bass

Barbara Wertico

keyboards

Paul Wertico - drums, percussion, hand claps; John Moulder - acoustic guitar, electric guitars, guitar synth; Eric Hochberg - acoustic bass, trumpet, vocals; Barbara Wertico - keyboards, hand claps; Brian Peters - fretless bass, violin, electric guitar, electric bass, Ebow, hand claps; Talia Wertico - vocal commentary, hand claps; Rocky - dog barks

Album information

Title: StereoNucleosis | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: A440 Music

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About Paul Wertico

Instrument: Drums

Concerts

Aug 31 Sat

MIKE STERN / NIELS LAN DOKY / STEVE RODBY / PAUL WERTICO

Holbæk Jazzklub
Holbæk, Denmark

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