''Excavation'' is an album by guitarist

Ben Monder Ben Monder (born May 24, 1962) is an American modern jazz rock guitarist. Biography Monder started playing guitar when he was eleven, after two years on violin. From 1979–84, he attended the Westchester Conservatory of Music, the University of ...

which was recorded in 1999 and first released on the

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foliate ...

label the following year. It was rereleased on Sunnyside Records in 2006.

Reception

The

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

review by David R. Adler stated "Guitarist Ben Monder packs this highly original album with a panoply of ideas. The dreamlike voice of Theo Bleckmann gives the music an almost medieval, spooky quality. The compositions couldn't be more modern, however. ... ''Excavation'' contains some of the most unique, invigorating music released during the year 2000". On

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

, Phil DiPietro said "Ben and crew literally unearth layer upon layer of harmonic invention from the tunes and progressions. ... The listener must therefore prepare the ears for some heavy, but certainly not burdensome, lifting as well ... All in all, another extremely strong release from an underrecognized, innovative harmonic master and his henchmen that, so fortunately for us all, calls out for the next".DiPietro, P
All About Jazz Review
accessed May 14, 2018 In

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' was an American print magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade ...

, Christopher Porter wrote "Guitarist Ben Monder possesses such prodigious technique that songs can run away from him as he restlessly crams in every chordal variation. And this is mostly a very good thing, especially on ''Excavation'' ... ''Excavation'' is well worth digging".Porter, C
JazzTimes Review
accessed May 14, 2018

Track listing

All compositions by Ben Monder except where noted # "Mistral" – 9:12 # "Luteous Pangolin" – 5:50 # "Ellenville" – 14:55 # "Sunny Manitoba" – 4:40 # "Hatchet Face" – 16:29 # "Etching" – 6:35 # "Windowpane" – 11:53 # "

You Are My Sunshine "You Are My Sunshine" is an American standard of old-time and country music and the state song of Louisiana. Its original writer is disputed. According to the performance rights organization BMI, by the year 2000 the song had been recorded by ...

" (

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American singer, songwriter, and Democratic Party politician. After achieving fame for releasing both sacred and popular songs, Davis served as governor of Louisiana from ...

, Charles Mitchell) – 3:36

Personnel

– guitar * Theo Bleckmann – voice * Skuli Sverrisson – electric bass * Jim Black – drums, percussion

References

{{Authority control Arabesque Records albums Sunnyside Records albums Ben Monder albums 2000 albums