tracks

What If
Shine On
Life Rocks
No One Like You
Make A Wish
Havana
Big As the Moon
One More Sleep
Secret Place
Summer Ride
Change the Past

notes

This album was made by a small and dedicated team, over the course of almost two years and the writing was realized over the last five, since the release of a fragile balance in 2007. Terry (Brown) and I have been friends for 20 years and we've talked about working on my music together, for the last ten. Well, we finally did and we are thrilled with what we cooked up in the kitchen! My friends and bandmates Ben Riley (drums) and Tom Lewis (bass) played some really amazing stuff and we hope you dig it as much as we did making it!!

Vintage Is Now is an evocative collection of tunes engaging and inviting the listener into a visceral and melodic odyssey. While rooted in the Canadian guitarist's distinctive sound, Vintage celebrates Ray's early rock/blues influences and everything in between, creating a sonic journey of depth and character. Produced by veteran Terry Brown (early Rush/Max Webster) and Montford, this album also finds the band, rounded out by ace musicians Ben Riley and Tom Lewis, fusing together a mystical and collective interplay, with great grooves and delicious tones.

There is something to be said about someone having the courage to release an instrumental album in 2012, and looking to make a dent in the pop-drenched landscape of the music world. Ray Montford, the virtuoso guitarist and Canada's own aficionado of the 6 string, has done just that and done it with great style, grace, and conviction.

His 11 track and sixth studio album - "Vintage Is Now" - is as beautiful a collection of guitar lead compositions as it is raw and uninhibited. Picture a journey on a magic carpet ride over a turbulent and roaring sea while laying on pillows of silk and down, flying through the white capped waves. Opium dreams you say? Well Montford knows exactly how to evoke these grandiose visions with his flawless playing and keep you in a state of unencumbered sensory bliss the whole way through.

Could Ray Montford be Canada's own Jeff Beck? With this gift of an album where so many emotions are touched on throughout, one has to think he may just be carving out his own path as a guitarist and letting his playing do the talking. Perhaps no one could ever fill the shoes of the guitar gods of the past but it doesn't seem that Ray has set out to achieve this shadow goal. His playing is unique, honest, and still enthusiastic which is rare these days as instrumentals go. His love for the guitar shines through the music which in essence keeps you, as the listener, so connected to his playing. His songs become the canvas of ones imagination and boldly paint a vision where voice and lyrics have no place over the roar of one man and his guitar. Ⓒ 2012 Mystic Lane Productions
All Rights Reserved
Recorded Au7gust 6 and August 9, 2012 at The Annex, San Mateo, CA

credits

Bass, Keyboards – Tom Lewis
Drums – Ben Riley
Guitar – Ray Montford
Producer – Ray Montford, Terry Brown
Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Geoff Roach
Bass – Brian Brockhouse
Cover [Design] – Nick Moyle (3)
Drums – Roddy Magallanes
Engineer – Forrest Lawrence
Guitar – Jack Conway
Mixed By, Mastered By – Stephen Hart
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Matt Kesner (2)
Trombone – Jon Schermer
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Smith (8)
Vibraphone – Dave Casini (tracks: 1, 4 to 7, 9 to 11), Rick Gray (4)

companies

Phonographic Copyright (p) – Mystic Lane Productions

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