New Release From Greg Chako, “Friends, Old & New”

Guitarist Greg Chako’s new release, “Friends, Old & New” features an all-original set of 10 songs, ranging in style – available Oct 14.

Greg Chako suffered through an unfortunate recording hiatus of over 8 years, caused by a combination of personal circumstances and the outset of COVID in 2020, only to rise up in 2022 to record his 11th album as a leader titled, Friends, Old & New. 

 Friends, Old & New promises to mark an impressive relaunch of the prolific recording career that produced 9 albums in just a little over 10 years when Chako lived in the Far East.  

It features an all-original set of 10 songs, ranging in style from a bluesy and traditional Guitar/Organ/Drums Trio, to a Brazilian-Flavored Sextet featuring percussion and both a male and female vocalist. Chako penned all the lyrics too, which are as supremely lyrical as his guitar playing. 

There are 9 players present on the record, but the format alternates with trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet. Saxman Brooks Giles doubles on Tenor and Soprano; Vocal songs are interspersed with the instrumentals (in the style of Cannonball Adderley presents Nancy Wilson); Organ & Bass share roles throughout, except on the tour-de-force final track, Samba Summer, on which they both play.

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