Ratko Zjaca je snimio solo gitarski album “Archtop Avenue” snimljem za poznatu Njemačku izdavačku kuću In+ Out Records .
Izlazak albuma je najavljen za listopad 2023 u formi vinila i CD-a.
Ovo je 17 album Ratka Zjace ali ovoga puta različit po mnogim detaljima a prvenstveno sto je solo album .
“Archtop Avenue” predstavlja Ratka u najzahtjevnijoj i najintimnijoj formi solo gitare.
Album koji dokumentira 12 različitih Archtop gitara najpoznatijih graditelja u posljednjih 100 godina na 12 različitih kompozicija .Album sadrži nekoliko Ratkovih autorskih skladbi, poznate standarde, Monk, Coltrane i Ellington .

“Archtop Avenue” je dio mog dugogodišnjeg istraživanja kako kaže Ratko Zjaca o Archtop gitarama i posvećena je najpoznatijim graditeljima gitara John D’Angelico, Jimmy D’Aquisto ,Chris Mirabella, Bryant Trenier, Linda Manzer, Bob Benedetto, Jim Triggs i drugima.Upravo smo navršili 100 godina postojanja Archtop gitara i ovaj album je prezentacija velikih graditelja na jednom albumu. Također i mojim učiteljima koji su mi otvorili glazbene horizonte, velikanima Joe Pass,Jimu Hall,Joe Diorio,Mick Goodrick Vic Juris. Preporucujeim slušanje ovog albuma na kvalitetnoj Hi-Fi opremi, a nadam se što manje na mobitelima i računalima.
Na albumu se nalaze čak 3 Liner Notes od poznatog američkog jazz novinara Bill Milkowki, legendarnog američkog jazz gitariste i profesora jazz gitare na Juillard School Rodney Jones i jedan od najvećih graditelja Archtop gitara današnjice Chris Mirabella .
“In this wonderful album, Ratko shares songs from the Great American Songbook and original compositions played with skill and feeling. The music is offered with a genuine reverence and a connection to the heart of the player. That is a rare and beautiful gift. Played without any hint of showing off, Ratko presents these beautiful melodies as food to be savored. This is beautiful music to use as a soundtrack for life. Sit back and relax and let the sounds take you away.”
Rodney Jones, Guitarist/Composer/Jazz Guitar Professor.
“Enjoy how Ratko speaks with each note, every pause, through each instrument. And enjoy each instrument. The differences, the similarities. The unique voices each one offers.”
Cristian Mirabella, one of the premier Archtop builders of the new generation of luthiers
“While respecting the harmonic contours and deeply ingrained melodies of those oft-covered tunes, and others presented here on Archtop Avenue, Zjaca puts his own personal stamp on them through reharmonization, subtle rhythmic shifts and improvisational flights Recording each track with a different archtop guitar, he interprets these beloved standards, and a few originals, with taste and invention. Always mindful of addressing the bass line while delivering rich chord voicings and spinning fluid melody lines, he strikes a delicate balancing act on these 12 tunes from Archtop Avenue. Archtop Avenue is a compelling addition to the canon of solo guitar and a crowning achievement in Zjaca’s career to date. “
Bill Milkowski, is an American jazz critic, journalist, and biographer.
He is the author of a great books a biography of bassist Jaco Pastorius, a biography of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards , Ode to a tenor titan the life and music of Michael Brecker and a biography of legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino
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