More Peaks Than Valleys

While high school aged kids stalk iTunes for the latest release from Jason Derulo and Taylor Swift, 17-year-old Slovakian guitarist Andreas Varady goes the other route; he releases a self-titled debut album that combines classic and contemporary covers to create a series of highs and lows.

Two covers of the legendary jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt immediately stick out in tracks “Nuages” and “Swing 42.” At only 17 years old, Varady manages to replicate sounds achieved after decades of practice by Reinhardt. Though the covers lack the emotion and stark rawness of the originals, Varady showcases immense talent.

Andreas Varady opens on a high note with a funky instrumental cover of “Do It Again” by Steely Dan. Keep in mind, Steely Dan released the track in 1972, 25 years before Varady’s birth in 1997. The prodigy plays a leading rhythm closely anchored to the original tune of the lyrics, adding jazzy runs to showcase skill and add flashiness to the song.

The lowest point on the album comes in the form of a Justin Bieber cover. Truly no surprise. “Baby” features a booming bass line and lyrics from Swedish pop jazz band, Dirty Loops. Varady plays some tasteful riffs but attempts (and fails) to save the track. Both backing band and lyrics sound completely out of place and fight to be heard over Varady, creating a cluster of disjointed sounds.

Following the “Baby” train wreck, Varady redeems himself with a cover of “The Secret Garden” by the legendary Quincy Jones. The mix balances the guitar, vocals and a tasteful saxophone solo.  The final high notes on the album come as covers of “California Dreaming” by The Mamas and the Papas and “Let The Good Times Roll” by B.B. King. Varady slows down “California Dreaming,” and sticks to the formula from the earlier Steely Dan cover.  He stays close to the original tune but jazzes the song up with tasty licks at times.

Varady cuts loose from the overall sound on the album on “Let the Good Times Roll” and absolutely rips a blues guitar solo as he pays homage to the legendary B.B. King. The track shows some serious chops and the addition of accompanying lyrics actually add to the song unlike the album’s previous attempts.

The Varady original “After Seven in Beijing” hints at a budding composer. The song, while mellow, proves the young guitarist possesses the ability to write original music.

Though some of the covers fall flat, Varady shows some serious skill on the better covers, and earns some serious respect covering the likes of Django Reinhardt. With the encouraging original song near the end of the album, Varady leaves listeners with an appetite for more. Expect to hear a lot from the 17-year-old virtuoso in the near future.