Category Archives: Jazz

Chromatographies: Beneath An Evening Sky (Homage to Ralph Towner)

This my definitive homage to the memory of master Ralph Towner. The collection comprises 8 of his compositions: new mixes of 6 tracks previously featured in Chromatographies vols. 1 to 4, plus two previously unreleased pieces, Beneath An Evening Sky and Serenade, opening and closing the set. Rest in peace Master Towner

Tracks featured in this collection:

  • Beneath An Evening Sky
  • Along The Way
  • Distant Hills
  • Dark Spirit
  • Sacred Place
  • Jamaica Stopover
  • Solitary Woman
  • Serenade
  • Read more...

    Chromatographies: The Singles Collection

    “The Singles Collection” is a compilation album featuring a selection of tracks from the first 4 volumes of Chromatographies.

    Chromatographies is the jazz and ambient guitar project of Carlos Ibanez. The recordings consist of solo guitar performances that alternate improvised ambient guitar meditations with jazz guitar pieces.

    Tracks featured in this collection:

  • The Three-Antibody Problem (vol. 4)
  • Water Maze (vol. 1)
  • Dark Spirit (vol. 3)
  • H.P.L.C. (vol. 2)
  • Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (vol. 1)
  • One More Replicate (vol. 3)
  • Jamaica Stopover (vol. 4)
  • Lotus Feet (vol. 2)
  • Soft Agar Dreams (vol. 3)
  • The Rain Song (vol. 4)
  • Read more...

    Pedalboard update v5

    The pedalboard v5 in use since June 2023 introduced many changes from the previous iteration.

  • New looper AEROS Loop Studio from Singular Sound replaced old friend DittoX4.
  • MC6 MIDI controller was upgraded to MC6 Pro.
  • New delay pedal ElCapistan v2 Tape Delay from Strymon.
  • DIG dual delay pedal upgraded to DIG v2.
  • Series/parallel box custom-made by Goodwood Audio (partially seen under VENTRIS) now allows DIG→BlueSky and ElCapistan→VENTRIS to run either in parallel or in series.
  • IRIDIUM and ENZO return to the main board; ICONOCLAST went ot the auxiliary board; the EXPRESSIONATOR was retired.
  • Switches on the side of the board (not seen here) allow to toggle the volume pedal between expression, volume, both or off.
  • Read more...

    Chromatographies vol. 4 “Acoustic Ribosomes” live in Bandcamp

    “Acoustic Ribosomes”, the fourth volume of the Chromatographies project, is now live in  Bandcamp for download or streaming. The download includes a digital booklet. There are also CDs available.

    Chromatographies is the jazz and ambient guitar project of Carlos Ibanez. The recordings consist of solo guitar performances that alternate improvised ambient guitar meditations with jazz guitar pieces.

    Different from previous volumes, the present recording mainly features acoustic instruments. In addition to original tracks, it includes pieces by Ralph Towner, Egberto Gismonti and Jimmy Page.

    Tracks featured in this recording:

    1. Sacred Place (Ralph Towner)
    2. Cystine Knot Waltz [knotted]
    3. Salvador (Egberto Gismonti)
    4. The Three-Antibody Problem
    5. Jamaica Stopover (Ralph Towner)
    6. Cystine Knot Waltz [unknotted]
    7. Bonding Hydrogens
    8. Solitary Woman (Ralph Towner)
    9. Cystine Knot Waltz [reknotted]
    10. Peace On The Chromosome
    11. The Rain Song (Jimmy Page)

    Compositions by Carlos Ibañez except as indicated. Read more...

    Buscarino Grand Cabaret: the ultimate crossover nylon string guitar

    Our latest guitar acquisition is a cross-over nylon string guitar made in 2005 by  John  Buscarino. This is his Grand Cabaret model with a number of special woods and appointments. This instrument was purchased through the wonderful (and highly addictive) Dream Guitars shop and website run by Paul Heumiller in North Carolina. Full specs can be found at their website here. Dream Guitars had two instruments that caught our attention and we schedule a live demo with them to see and hear the two instruments through an uncompressed  video link. There were several features in this instrument that tilted the decision. A wider nut and the cedar top were the more critical, aside of its fancy woods and appointments. What’s a crossover guitar? Read more...