The five "Zombie-Sonata Rags" have Lawson using his favorite themes from early 19th century European guitar sonatas, and imagining these sonatas emerged from some swamp in America a century later as ragtime duets, zombies of what they were in a bygone era. Koholeth Rag, an earlier original by Lawson, is unusual for being written in a minor key and using imitative procedures more typical of a Baroque fugue.

The "Sonata for guitar and ukulele" is a new work that may be appreciated by lovers of the diminutive, often under-rated instrument. The lively first and third movements, while technically challenging for the ukulele, make good use of the instrument's ability to produce spicy chords and note-clusters. The classical form of the sonata has a tendency to hide just how many blues and jazz riffs and chords are serving as the foundation. The contrasting middle movement "Jury Duty" slowly reveals an appropriately pensive fugue.

The Prelude and Fugue in F minor represents a fraction of a cycle of 24 Preludes and Fugues for both solo guitar and guitar duet.

The "Guitar Sonata #2 in C major" opens with a sonata Allegro whose first theme is literally a 12-bar blues. The Maestoso offers a slower, lovely-sounding lullaby. The "Guitar Sonata in G major", performed on 8-string classical guitar, uses open G tuning. The first movement "Hobo Spider Blues" opens with a slide blues variation-form inspired by Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, while the second movement "Ragged and Sor(e)" changes to a solo rag influenced by music of Fernando Sor. The third movement "Ricardo de Yakima" returns to the slide guitar with a laid-back country blues feel.

1. Carulli's Zombie Sonata Rag (after Op 21 1 and 2) (Jeremiah Lawson)
2. Prelude in F Minor (Jeremiah Lawson)
3. Fugue in F Minor (Jeremiah Lawson)
4. Giuliani's Zombie Sonata Rag (from Op 15 61 and 150) (Jeremiah Lawson)
5. Presto Moderato 'Moving In' from Sonata for Ukulele and Guitar (Jeremiah Lawson)
6. Maestoso 'Jury Duty' from Sonata for Ukulele and Guitar (Jeremiah Lawson)
7. Menuet and Trio 'Summer in the Park' from Sonata for Ukulele and Guitar (Jeremiah Lawson)
8. Sor's Zombie Sonata Rag (after Op 14 15b 22 and 25) (Jeremiah Lawson)
9. Diabelli's Zombie Sonata Rag (from Op 29 Sonatas 2 and 3) (Jeremiah Lawson)
10. Allegro from Guitar Sonata 2 in C Major (Jeremiah Lawson)
11. Maestoso from Guitar Sonata 2 in C Major (Jeremiah Lawson)
12. Koholeth Rag (Jeremiah Lawson)
13. Hobo Spider Blues from Guitar Sonata in G Major (Jeremiah Lawson)
14. Ragged and Sor(e) from Guitar Sonata in G Major (Jeremiah Lawson)
15. Ricardo de Yakima from Guitar Sonata in G Major (Jeremiah Lawson)
16. Matiegka's Zombie Sonata Rag (from Grand Sonatas 1 and 2) (Jeremiah Lawson)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 02/05/2016
Daniel Estrem lives in Minnesota USA

Tagged as: Classical, Contemporary, Instrumental, Composer: Jeremiah Lawson, Classical Guitar

1. Acoustic Dreams by Manuel Ochoa: jazz and tango from where else, Argentina
2. Nectar by Kitka: Eastern European women's vocal music
3. Conversations Galantes by Ensemble Mirable: rare and extraordinary music of the Baroque
4. Christmas Through the Gateway by Osamu Kitajima and Chris Mancinelli: pan pacific ambient dance masters
5. A Solo Piano Christmas by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
6. Rock This Moon by Burnshee Thornside: funny, funky blues
7. Tasabasaba by To Life!: Music as a journey through tribal landscapes, rhythmic dance, hypnotic trance.
8. Ladislav Jelinek plays Smetana and Dvorak by Ladislav Jelinek: classical works from a World renowned pianist
9. India meets Persia by Simone Angele and Amir Kalhor: Classical styles of India and Persia and Oriental Fusion
10. Wind from the Orient by Olexa Kabanov: strings slowly plucked from the soul
11. The Christmas Album by AlmaNova: lively flute/guitar duo
12. Mozart in the Age of Enlightenment by Seth Carlin: fortepiano music from the early 1800s
13. Fear and Curiosity by DP Kaufman: ambient, melodic electronica meets neo-classical
14. Courante by Edward Martin and Thomas Walker: French lute duets that represent the pinnacle of the High Baroque
15. Narcotherapy Hypnosis by Made of Wood: Groove laden chillout funk
16. Christmas Music by Magnatune Compilation: the best music from Magnatune
17. A Reason to Stay Up all Night by Emma Wallace: angst-free modern ragtime
18. Blues for all Occasions by Alan Marchand: Toe Teasin' Jazz Tunes For All Occasions
19. Hidden Treasures by Hans Christian: new age meets Indian cello
20. Rumi Symphony (instrumental) by Hans Christian: new age meets Indian cello

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