Review by John Luciano
While listening to Travis Vega’s latest independent release, Just Let It Flow, I spent time on both his
web and
MySpace sites,
trying to familiarize myself with this Northern California guitarist. Vega is probably typical of many young, up and coming,
aspiring musicians, who, as talented as they may be – on the local level, never would have gotten a chance at making it on the
national stage in the past. Thanks to the internet and sites such as MySpace, along with affordable and accessible laptop-
based recording software, musicians with both talent and desire, like Travis Vega, have a whole new way to produce and distribute
their music, beyond their local confines.
Vega’s playing, by his own admission, is coming straight out of the Wes Montgomery / George Benson lineage. In fact, he seems as though he could step right into Fattburger and pick up where Steve Laury left off (has it really been 17 years since Laury last recorded with the Burger?). As much as I wanted to like Just Let It Flow, I had trouble getting past the computerized drum track; even though a number of Vega’s original compositions hold promise. I would have really liked to hear him work some of his compositional ideas a little deeper. Perhaps working with more live musicians, instead of sequenced tracks, would have helped. I feel Travis Vega is a guitarist with a great sound and a lot of promise – I look forward to hearing what he comes up with next time.
Buy the download from iTunes!
