Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo

Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo
Studio album by Sandy Bull
Released	August, 1963
Recorded	1963
Genre	Folk
Length	42:23
Label	Vanguard
Sandy Bull chronology
Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo (1963) Inventions (1965)

Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo is the debut album of the folk guitarist Sandy Bull, released in 1963 through Vanguard Records.

Recording

Bull recorded the album accompanied by Billy Higgins, a session jazz drummer who had previously appeared on early Ornette Coleman records.^[1] Together they recorded three original pieces as well as interpretations of Carmina Burana Fantasy and Non nobis Domine.

Music

The highlight of Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo is usually considered to be its opener "Blend", a lengthy improvisational piece.^[2] According to Bull, the ideas behind the piece originated from his admiration of Folkways Records, which documented ethnic music from across the world. He also claimed to being particularly inspired from hearing Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan in New York.^[3] "Blend" has been viewed as a "virtual travelogue of styles done in a then revolutionary modal tuning".^[4] The tuning is in the key of B.^[5]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]

Matthew Greenwald of allmusic called Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo an "incredible debut" and lauded it for being well ahead of its time.^[4]

Legacy

Author Kevin Fellezs writes that the album is a prime example of an "underacknowledged early fusion-world recording that remains musically compelling today."^[1]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Blend"	Bull	22:00

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Carmina Burana Fantasy"	Orff	4:34
2.	"Non nobis Domine"	Byrd	1:39
3.	"Little Maggie"	Bull	4:09
4.	"Gospel Tune"	Bull	10:01

Personnel

• Sandy Bull – banjo, guitar
• Billy Higgins – drums

External links

• Fantasias For Guitar And Banjo at Discogs (list of releases)

References

1. Fellezs, Kevin. Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion. Duke University Press. 2011. pg. 50. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
2. Larkin, Colin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin Books. 1999. pg. 135. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
3. Leech, Jeanette. Seasons They Change: The Story of Acid and Psychedelic Folk. Jawbone Press. 2010. pg. 43. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
4. Greenwald, Matthew. "Fantasias for Guitar & Banjo". Allmusic. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
5. Williams, Paul. The Crawdaddy! Book: Writings (And Images) from the Magazine of Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. 2002. pg. 102. Retrieved August 11, 2012.