Dom Minasi – Me Myself and I – Review

Listen to the Review

Whenever I hear any of Dom’s albums for the first time, it’s always a fantastic listening experience. I have to say, Me Myself and I was not only a real pleasure to listen to, but also a very pleasant surprise.

It might be said that some of the tunes on this project have more of a commercial sense to them than the other albums I’ve listed to from Dom. However, when I say commercial, that is not to take anything away from the artistic originality and quality of each piece. It’s just good music; great writing and great playing. 

A Different Sound

Dom is the only musician on this album. He’s playing two guitar parts on each tune. He first laid down the rhythm tracks and then went back and recorded the melodies and improv. Both parts played beautifully. 

Another thing that’s a little different about this project; rather than playing an electric jazz guitar, Dom uses his two acoustic Takamine guitars. One 6 sting and 12 string. As Dom mentions in the album’s liner notes, you don’t often hear an acoustic 12 string guitar in jazz. Fresh stuff, man. Powerfully beautiful acoustic guitar playing.

Over 40 Years In The Making

The creation of this project, from start to finish, spans over 40 years. Dom wrote the compositions from 1976 – 1995. He recorded the original version of this album in March of 2005.

Then the project was remastered in October of 2021. To me, this project is an awesome example of how even after the project is finished you can still go back and rework it; make it even better.

Always a Storyteller 

On two of my reviews of Dom’s albums I’ve referred to Dom, and actually everyone on the roster as storytellers.

I know I’m kind of starting to sound like a broken record on this point, but it’s so important to mention again. Being a talented storyteller with your instrument is not common. And in my opinion, it’s what creates the music that can be enjoyed and lasts the test of time. Me Myself and I is that kind of album.

Ted Vieira for Minor11.com

---

Liner Notes for Me Myself and I

Sometime during the early part of 2000, I thought it would be a good idea to lay down some tracks of my tunes. I also decided to use my acoustic guitars. My Takamine 6 sting and 12 string guitars. Since I was able to play bass lines and rhythm at the same time, the recording became Me Myself and I.

I called my friend Marty Dunayer, who owns Musecat Recording Studios, and explained what I wanted to do. We set a date and the first hour I recorded the rhythm parts and in hour two, I recorded the melody and the improvisations.

My biggest concern was that the time stayed constant. It was not an easy thing to do, but fortunately I did it. it. I also thought you seldom hear a 12 stringed acoustic guitar play jazz.

Within the next few weeks Marty mixed it and I gave him the OK to master the recording and it has been sitting on my shelf since then.

Since the Pandemic I haven’t been able get back in the studios to record again, so I searched my files to see what I have that can be re-mastered and released.

What you are listening to are compositions I wrote between 1976 and 1995.

1. Samba De Domingo: Written as a fun tune to play with the modulations from A minor -Bb minor to D minor. (12string rhythm)
2. Brown Eyes: I wrote the melody first and then years later I named it. I thought Brown Eyes was a good name since there was Soul Eyes and Infant Eyes. It took me 20 years to write lyrics to the tune. (two12 stringed guitars)
3. Gentle: I love Bossa Nova’s and this spilled out. (Two 12 string guitars)
4. Inside Out: was written in 1975. Hoping I could record it on my second Blue Note Record, but the powers that be thought I should go a different commercial route. (Two six stringed guitars)
5. The Color of Her Eyes Are Gray: I wrote this for my then fiancé, Carol Mennie, who has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen (two 12 stringed guitars)
6. Angela was written for a friend who tragically died in a car accident. Since then, Randy Johnston recorded it as an instrumental. My wife Carol recorded it as a vocal and two years ago I recorded with my Argentinian friend, Juampy Juarez, on a recording called Freedland. (12 stringed guitar- rhythm)
7. Be Op Be Op Be Ah: I wanted to write a Be Bop tune but with a different, more modern set of chord changes. (12 string solo)
8. Ballad for Carol: The first jazz ballad I wrote for my wife around 1996. (12 stringed guitar plays lead)
9. Sometime Samba I got the idea from Roger Kelloway. He composed a tune for me on Blue Note called Sometime Boogie. I thought it would be a great idea to do one as a Samba with bridge going into a jazz swing. (Two six stringed guitars)

---

Back Cover Artwork