Sandy Nassan.  If you were only able to use one word for a review it would have to be 'Wow', or maybe 'Un-fucking-believable', or perhaps 'Astounding'.  He's just that amazing.

I got turned on to this guy by a friend at work, who spent a lot of time in the 70's and 80's working in the music business.  When I went whole hog into the Hi-Fi vinyl thing, it was this guy who's ear I would bend endlessly about how ecstatic I was to be hearing the sound I was hearing through the setup I cobbled together.  He's a fellow music lover and always seems sympathetic to my musically related compulsions.  Anyway, one day at work, he surprised me by bringing in an unopened copy of a direct-to-disc LP by a guitarist named Sandy Nassan.  The disc is titled simply 'Nassan', released by Family Owl Productions, in 1978.  I wasn't hip to the concept of direct to disc, but apparently that's when an artist or band opts to record straight to the cutting lathe, while making the lacquer master that is used to then make the the vinyl LP's.  No tape, no overdubs, no 'we can take care of it in post'.  What it means is that you had better be pretty god-damned proficient with your instrument, because if you mess up, you start all over with a new lacquer master.  And Sandy Nassan is nothing if not proficient on his chosen instrument of guitar!  In fact he's a Master.

I've managed to track down only one other lp by him;  1970's 'Just Guitar' on Embryo records, a division of Atlantic.  How's it's possible that some one with this type of talent just disappears into the ether, is simply beyond me.  He's got all the bases covered and then some, from classical guitar, to jazz, to a progressive fusion like style that is unique in my listening experience.

Some additional information from my friend helps to explain this paradox somewhat.  He tells me that Sandy didn't especially like playing live dates (made me think of Nick Drake in this regard).  He also tells me that Sandy was a person who seemed pretty comfortable in his own shoes, and if those shoes didn't necessarily conform with other people's ideas of how shoes should be, it just wasn't something Sandy seemed to register, or even care about.  He was all about HIS music on HIS terms.

I hopped on the internet to do some research.  Nothing.  Well there was one seriously weirded out poem that read like the author had maybe had a hit of the 'brown acid' if you know what I mean.  But other than that nothing.  A recent search turns up precious little more.  There are some links to places selling old copies of the lps on ebay or elsewhere, but nothing too much about the man and his career.  This just didn't suit my inquisitive mind!

I managed to track Mr. Nassan down.  While I'm not normally in the habit of stalking artists that I appreciate, I was so haunted by his music and haunted by the idea that it was just two albums and then poof, he's gone, I just had to talk to the man and ask some questions.  I got a phone number for him, through means I'll keep to myself, and worked up the gumption to actually call him.  I was connected to his receptionist, to which I explained who I was and the nature of my call.  She was very nice, and seemed a little tickled by my call.  She told me he was out of the office but that she would make sure he got my message.  Well, no harm, no foul, I thought.  I'm sure this will be the end of it.  Then I went on with my life.

Later that day, in the afternoon, while driving in my car, I received a telephone call from a number I didn't immediately recognize.  Guess who?  No shit.  He actually called me back.  I introduced myself and we proceeded to have a 30 minute conversation.  It was wonderful.  He told me that he still 'practices' everyday.  He told me that he was just never that into fame or stardom and that he recorded those albums, continued to play some live dates in and around Cincinnati, and then went on with HIS life.  He shared with me that he still has the guitar with which he is pictured on the back of his 'Just Guitar' album and that he sent it back to Gibson at some point early on to have them put a different neck on it.  He says that he currently plays bass with some guys in his town.   He says there are no other LP's floating around out there, but that he has a lot of material that he would put on tape for me.  In short, I found this man to be very humble, gracious, and interesting beyond belief.  And my conversation with the PERSON behind these two albums that I cherish, has provided me with another dimension of appreciation for him as an artist.  I can understand his music just a little better than before, and this allows me to enjoy these wonderful albums even more.

Just Guitar

Side A

1. JAM (J Am)
2. When I Look In Your Eyes

Side B

1. A House Is Not A Home
2. Medely:  Corcovado
3. Meditation
4. Bluesette
5. Here's That Rainy Day

Nassan

Side A

1. Bio-Phase
2. Black Orpheus
3. Captiva

Side B

1. Here Comes The Sun
2. Bluesette
3. Music Box
4. Emily Jane Bell
    

Thank you Sandy Nassan.