WORLD JAZZ

 Danny Heines is one of those hard-to-categorize artists: he falls into the cracks between jazz, space, worldbeat and a bunch of other categories. In some ways he's like Jeff Beck (Danny is a guitarist), but in other ways he's not like Jeff Beck at all - how about Pat Metheny? Yes - but not an adequate comparison, again. Contemplative? Sometimes. Somewhat experimental? Yes. Keeper of the acoustic flame? Sure - except when he plays electric guitar, or when a synthesizer player guests on a cut or two. Folk-jazz? Definitely at times; especially on VANISHING BORDERS. Unlike most guitarists, however, who might fall into this zone, the music of Danny Heines lacks that 'hey Ma, look at me" egotistic guitar-god feel. It's his overall sound which is what's important - not showing off super technique.

 On WHAT WORLDS THEY BRING, guitarist Danny Heines breaks away from his acoustic jazz guitar sound so prevalent on VANISHING BORDERS and breaks out further into the great unknown of roots music from around the world. Talking drums, exotic female vocals, Africa meets Russian Tuvan style throat singing and bansuri flute meets lap steel guitar normally associated with Hawaiian country music - all done with a vaguely Indian beat tapped out on tablas.

 A tribute to Thelonius Monk on acoustic guitar. Hungarian vocals, Tanzanian vocals - Africa meets eastern Europe finally (almost). On cut 12, 'Sketchy in Spain' (cute!) we get the flamenco-influenced guitar we know Danny had to have in him.

 WHAT WORLDS THEY BRING is a very mellow recording - almost but not quite mellow enough to have been called 'new age', but so much of that stuff was junk and the music of Danny Heines is anything but.

 Danny isn't content with being a great guitarist: he keeps pushing the boundaries, learning new instruments, new voices, absorbing sounds from everywhere: the music of Danny Heines truly knows no borders.