Alastair Greene - Standing Out Loud (2024)

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Alastair Greene - Standing Out Loud (2024)

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Guitar virtuoso Alastair Greene has artfully managed a dynamic solo career while contributing to the music of notable artists such as Grammy-winner Alan Parsons and soul-blues Grammy nominee Sugaray Rayford. Greene's latest release, Standing Out Loud, is a commanding declaration poised to solidify his position as a seasoned veteran in the blues rock world. With a strong batch of original songs rooted in blues and southern rock traditions, it builds upon the momentum created by his critically acclaimed solo releases of recent years. "Teaming up with Ruf Records for this album feels like a natural and perfect fit for the progression of my career," says the California native and multi-charting Billboard artist that Blues Music Magazine called "a major talent in the blues-rock category."

With Standing Out Loud (his 11th solo record), Greene set out to create an honest, no-nonsense record that recalls the spirit of his favourite music from the 1960s and 70s. For that purpose, he headed to Nashville in January 2024, knocking out eight of the album's eleven songs. His partner in this endeavour was Nashville stalwart JD Simo, who co-produced with Greene and engineered the tracks in his own House of Grease studio.

"I knew JD was into making old-school-sounding records, and I wanted to see what we could create together," explains Greene. "He brought in an excellent rhythm section to make the record with me. We got a lot done in a short amount of time and captured some fantastic moments." Greene packed his explosive electric guitar fretwork into tight, neatly constructed songs like the hard-driving blues-rock opener “You Can't Fool Me” and the mid-tempo rocker "Slow Burn."

"I dug into some Rolling Stones and early ZZ Top before making the record," Greene recalls, "I wanted to make an album that sounded like it was recorded in the early 70s, not just the songs but also how the record sounds sonically." This approach also meant keeping his songs concise and to the point. It's a refreshing aspect of Standing Out Loud that distinguishes Greene's new album from other contemporary blues-rock releases.

Greene continues: "Look at the studio version of “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix; it's two minutes and twenty-five seconds long. That was something I wanted to accomplish. I want the songs to speak for themselves." This does not suggest he held anything back at the Nashville sessions; Greene's solos on Standing Out Loud are nothing if not dynamic. Yet, like his favourite classic rock-era players, he integrates those solos into compact studio cuts.

Three more "live in the studio" tracks stem from a session in Greene's adopted hometown of Austin, Texas. Greene lays it down here with some powerhouse performances, including a cover of the classic “Bullfrog Blues,” which he uses to showcase his acoustic and electric guitar skills. "I feel fortunate to have worked with so many amazing players on this record," he declares.

With Standing Out Loud completed and due for release in late Spring 2024, Greene is itching to hit the road. His 2024 tour schedule will include festival and club dates across the U.S. and over 40 European dates. "I've toured Europe many times as the guitarist with the Alan Parsons Live Project, and I'm excited to be bringing my music to the people."