*. The Dr. Joe Project .*

Album: The Path (2014)
Genre: Prog Rock (Crossover/Medieval/Folk)  /  USA

The Path started out as a group project by Subtle Force, my progressive rock group. In late 2012 we made headway, recording three original tunes and learning a few covers by Kansas, Yes, Moody Blues, and Vanilla Fudge. We also had already written songs and sketches on the boards when everyone got busy. Consequently, I proceeded to record the remaining six songs on my own, with a little help from my friends. The CD came out in March of 2014.
Beiow is the Program:

TRACK 1: The Path of Wood and Steel (J. Baldassarre) - This song is about an older guitar player who hears a talented young man just starting his career. He relates his own beginnings and wonders about the future of the young guitarist. "There with the grace of God was I."The song features a dreamlike introduction that reappears after the verses.  The ending is an extensive instrumental, first by the organ, then guitar.
TRACK 2: Will You Love Me Tomorrow (G.Goffin/C.King) - The only cover song totally reworks the Shirelles hit into a 7-minute foray in the style of Vanilla Fudge. The fretless based solo near the beginning and {backwards) guitar solo half-way through are based on a melody by the 12th-century Abbess, Hildegard von Bingen.
TRACK 3: Beacons (S.Baldassarre, J.Jensen, J.Baldassarre) - My son, Stephen, came up with the concept and chord progression for this one. Our friend Jamie Jensen wrote the lyrics for this love song with a lot of great imagery. I organized, edited and arranged the song. It features a "hook" in 3-part harmony with violin and 2 guitars.
TRACK 4: Fortuna Desperata (Antoine Busnoys) - Busnoys is a bridge composer between the medieval and renaissance - but this court song is in the medieval, 3-part polyphonic style. In the opening third of this track, the 3 melodies are played on electric guitars, with chords and rhythm section inferred. The middle third is with typical medieval style and instrumentation, while the final third is modern and medieval together.
TRACK 5: Saltarello (15th-century Italian) - This is the first of two straight thefts from the late Middle Ages. The dance starts  with typical mediaThl instrumentation, soon to be accompanied by modern rock instruments and inferred chords. At the halfway point, it comes a rock jam between the organ and guitar to the end of the piece.
TRACK 6: Azure Blue (J.Baldassarre) - This song was inspired by my wife, Jan - with the Azure Blue eyes. The changing meters came to the songs naturally.
TRACK 7: Birth of the Sun (J.Baldassarre) - When I was at the conservatory, I didm;t know what music degree I wanted to pursue, so this was the most song-like melodies I wrote. I had intended to do something with it (it was originally for flute and piano), and here it is.
TRACK 8: Triptych (J.Baldassarre) - This describes the painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Heironymouys Bosch. The three panel;s are painted with instrument here:  Center panel, Left panel, Right panel, and returning to the Center again.
TRACK 9: Blind Eyes Closecd (J.Baldassarre) - Before setting this poem to music, I showed it to several people. Each came up with their own idea of what they mean.... PERFECT. Needless to say, it is dark and full of angst. (www.drjoeb.com)

RATING:  7.25 / 10

.