Definitions, elastic and porous. Extreme. Guitar. Can we agree on what these things mean? "Guitar" may seem obvious but as we delve into its identity, we discover that it is never a simple naming. As complex and varied as "human," guitars may be traced back in evolution from Pythagoras' monochord through zithers, dulcimers, harps, ouds, and lutes to the modern proliferation of both electronically-enhanced hyper-instruments; highly refined ergonomic instruments made of space-age composite materials; and inexpensive and functional mass-market specials. In the mid-20th century, the guitar was transformed by the radically expansive sonic vocabulary of artists from the realms of rock, blues, jazz and country whose hot riffs and basic sensibilities were filtered through the technical innovations of the ever-curious tinkerers, the Les Paul's, the Bigsby's, the Leo Fender's. From an Apollonian instrument of rationality, harmony, and measured melodies, the guitar became a Dionysian oracle of vocalized and onomatopoetic sounds, degenerate excess, youthful rebellion, and applied futurism. During the latter half of this past century, especially in the 60's and 70's, some of us experimented with extended techniques, electronics, Cage-ian preparations, deconstruction, alternate tunings, feedback, and even the very essence of guitar with instruments customized, chopped, channeled, mutated, recombined, and reconfigured. Sometimes it was extremity for its own sake, sometimes it was "orchestration." Now, in this ever-more-reactionary new century, Marco Cappelli and his Extreme Guitar Project harkens back (and forward!) to a beautifully extreme definition of guitar without restraint or boundaries, image reflected in both the repertoire and the hardware. From his own viewpoint honed in geographical distance, he has assembled his vision of "downtown" personalities and musics. From the insider view, he has pulled together an extremely wide range of sources, more a map of greater New York (including its' outer Tokyo neighborhoods!) than a microscopic look at a particular scene. This is a collection of compositions that reflects myriad approaches, strategies, techniques, intentions, and sonic worlds for an old/new, high/low instrument customized to Cappelli's desires and needs. Whether acoustic or electronic, strictly composed or impressionistically improvised, his Extreme Guitar Project opens the door wide.

 Elliott Sharp