This is the first solo recording from Bob McAlpine (artist bio below), and it marks his debut in the genre of fingerstyle guitar.
All selections (11 electric, 2 acoustic) were performed, produced and arranged for solo guitar by Bob McAlpine.

REVIEWS by Don Breithaupt and Rik Emmett:

"The criminally underrated Toronto guitarist Bob McAlpine here attempts the impossible (hence the title): to put across thirteen Steely Dan classics on solo guitar, sans overdubs. The enterprise is a resounding success. Managing the Dan's distinctive chord changes and basslines should be chore enough for one real-time pass, but McAlpine also spells Becker and Fagen's melodies with accuracy and panache, and solos up a storm to boot. The sense of R&B groove is strong throughout, and the guitar is recorded with crystalline fidelity. McAlpine, a longtime member of the Canadian Dan trib Pretzel Logic, must have been formulating this solo project for some time now; it has been well worth the wait. Highly recommended!"

Don Breithaupt
Author, Steely Dan's Aja (Continuum, 2007)


"... a gorgeous, precise, clean & tidy, exact approach [mental] and execution [technical]. With tone to match. It takes a Beautiful, Major League Mind to attempt this repertoire, with solo, bare-naked, high-wire derring-do. And Bob pulls it off with style & elegance. Outstanding guitar work."

Rik Emmett


ARTIST BIO:

Bob McAlpine has been an in-demand session player and "go-to" guitar man on the Toronto music scene for many years.
His guitar work has been heard on scores of albums, television shows and jingles. He has actively conducted guitar workshops and clinics, and has written guitar columns for Canadian Musician magazine.
Bob's versatility and sight-reading skills have landed him work with such diverse artists as David Clayton-Thomas, Roger Whittaker, Rik Emmett, Gowan, The Canadian Idol House Band, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, Shirley MacLaine, and a host of R&B stars including Ben E. King, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, The Chambers Brothers, Freda Payne, and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
He also filled in as a regular sub guitar player for the Toronto productions of "Hairspray" and most recently "We Will Rock You" (Queen musical), where he subbed for both guitar players and thereby had the honour of playing every Brian May solo and harmony part in the show.
Amidst all his freelance gigs and session work, Bob has managed to perform regularly with a few notable Toronto bands:
Nightfly (corporate and clubs)(1990-2000)
Pretzel Logic (10-piece Steely Dan tribute)(1993-present)
Brass Transit (Chicago tribute)(2009-present)

STUDIES: Bob began playing guitar at age 8, and by age 11 had begun studying with legendary Canadian guitar teacher Tony Bradan. He completed Tony's guitar course through 6 years of private study, and then went on to become a graduate of the Humber College Music Program in Toronto.

NEXT UP: Bob enjoys and intends to continue working as a sideman ("guitar player for hire"), but looks forward to the new challenge of perfoming solo as well. He has recently started singing, and hopes to include some debut vocal recordings on his next solo CD, which will feature some of his original material.
Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.