Big Ideas is the fifth release from 8-string guitar virtuoso Jack West and his ensemble, Curvature. Produced by Lee Townsend, who specializes in recordings of an interdisciplinary, cross-genre nature by contemporary composers and improvisers (Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, Charlie Hunter), this recording is a perfect fit for both musician and producer. First class players include drummer Scott Amendola, marimba player Joel Davel, and cellist Mark Summer. Each of these musicians has developed his reputation based on his distinct approach to his instrument-the perfect combination for West and the right timing for producer Lee Townsend to step in. West's strikingly original compositions, his soulful slide-guitar work and the band's seamless ensemble playing have drawn rave reviews. "Make no mistake, Jack West is on the path less taken...exploring uncharted territory...uncannily familiar and yet completely fresh." - Andy Gilbert, Jazz Critic, San Jose Mercury News Publishers Pick of the Week, 12/31/00, www.allaboutjazz.com "There's a lot one can do with an eight-string guitar, and in the hands of Jack West, the results are stunning. The special guitar allows West to play bass, melody and lead lines simultaneously, all the while interacting with the other players on the date: cellist Mark Summer, drummer Scott Amendola, and marimba man Joel Davel. The ensemble work is seamless, with original tunes in odd time signatures and world rhythms that produce an almost hypnotic, exotic feel. The players all contribute great solos, including some plucked bass lines by cellist Summer. Veteran producer Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, Charlie Hunter, Pat Metheny) and West blend all these elements into one of the more interesting releases the new year." - Michael Handler, jazzwest.com A mostly self-taught guitarist, West, 33, has been stretching and bending the sound of his unique acoustic guitar, specially constructed for him, by utilizing unusual tunings, dazzling finger-picking, funky and bluesy slide work, and off-beat percussive techniques. Well respected in both the jazz and folk communities for his innovative approach to writing tunes, the composer has the extraordinary ability to write instrumental pieces that are complex, strikingly original, and accessible at the same time. Jack West has been described as "extraordinary" by the East Bay Express, while the Oakland Tribune has called his music "nothing short of astounding." The San Francisco Bay Guardian has written, "Curvature's music bristles with instrumental virtuosity and a freewheeling improvisational spirit." Although West is hesitant to categorize his music, he defines it as "modern American music by a musician from Georgia that's living in the diverse cultural landscape of California." Residing in the San Francisco Bay Area has allowed Jack to experiment with unusual combinations of instruments that give shape to his compositions and have helped him develop his style. It has also given him a chance to work with a slew of top Bay Area artists: Mike Marshall, Calder Spanier (former member of Charlie Hunter Quartet), Scott Amendola, Jon Evans, George Brooks (Zakir Hussain's Rhythm Experience), Jenny Scheinman, Joel Davel (Kaila Flexer's band), Mark Summer (Turtle Island String Quartet), and many others. A prolific composer, Jack has completed his fifth release as a band leader within a period of six years. "Jack West snaps & slides out mellow, woody jazz compositions that are both technically improbable and sonically impressive...his unorthodox approach always breathes deep with originality." - Creative Loafing, Atlanta "[Big Ideas is] a remarkable outing of cool curves, gently sloping musical parabolas, & wondrous bends in compositional structure. With rhythm at the fore West offers unusual sound colors, fluid slide work, & percussive attack" - Down Beat "A whole new sub-genre of jazz" - National Public Radio "...sounds like something never heard before...nothing short of astounding!"- Oakland Tribune "Curvature explores an original, rhythmically astute amalgam of blues, jazz, funk, and folk. Although complex in terms of time signatures and improvisations, Curvature's music is immediately accessible, owing to West's beguiling melodic sensibility and his absorbing percussive attack." - SF Bay Guardian "serious talent...serious ideas...a technically gifted guitarist determined to create a sound and a grove that's totally out of bounds from most of the formulaic jam band music..."- Flagpole, Athens "Jack West is not only a fine musician, but he has an original approach and sounds like no one else. To my mind, that is one of the most important qualities that a musician can possess." - Lee Townsend "Bold, boundless exploration...seamless ensemble give and take...West's fluid, innovative guitar stylings are matched in daring and virtuosity by the contributions of his sidemen. By all means, expect the unexpected." - Pacific Sun. "Jack West negotiates surprising twists and turns and attains boggling musical heights...remarkable." - SF Bay Guardian. "...unique and enchanting...otherworldly..." - Connect Savannah "Hauntingly beautiful...gorgeous, tightly structured compositions built on shifting rhythmic patterns...extraordinary!" - East Bay Express