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Cleveland has just completed a new album—Void—featuring bassist Michael Manring, drummer Celso Alberti, and pedal-steel guitarist Robert Powell. Vocalists include Cleveland (“Suicide Train”), Amy X Neuburg ("Lake of Fire," "Money Speaks," "What Have They Done to the Rain," "Telstar"), and Harry Manx with backing vocals by Deborah Holland ("Stars of Sayulita"). Additional musicians include the Artist General (voice), Erdem Helvacioglu (guitar/electronics), Rick Walker (drums/percussion), and Gino Robair (percussion). Unmastered mixes of "Stars of Sayulita," "Lake of Fire," "You'll Just Have To See It To Believe," and "Warning" are posted above. Comments are welcome!

Cleveland released his first commercial album on Larry Fast's Audion Recording Company label in 1986. Mythos combined layers of guitar with Bob Stohl and Kat Epple's woodwinds, synthesizers, and light percussion; and Michael Masley's otherworldly bowhammer cymbalom. The CD received glowing reviews in Option, Jazziz, the Stereo Review Compact Disc Buyer's Guide, and numerous other publications.

Voluntary Dreaming, released on Scarlet Records in 1989, also met with critical acclaim. The music had an electronic edge—Cleveland played samplers and synths in addition to electric and acoustic guitars—but also encroached upon world music territory with the addition of Michael Pluznick's African and Middle Eastern percussion. Michael Masley's bowhammer cymbalom, and Robert Powell's pedal-steel guitar, added exotic harmonic and melodic touches.

During the '90s Cleveland began a parallel career in journalism. Between 1996 and 2002 he worked in various editorial capacities and wrote dozens of articles and product reviews for Mix, Electronic Musician, and Onstage magazines. In mid-2002 he joined the staff of Guitar Player magazine, where he continues to serve as an associate editor. Cleveland's first book, Creative Music Production: Joe Meek's Bold Techniques, was published by MixBooks in the Fall of 2001.

CDs by Barry Cleveland may also be purchased from CD Baby:
VOLCANO | MEMORY & IMAGINATION

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS

"There's little doubt that Cleveland has a full command of his instrument, both as a player and a shaper of sound, utilizing all manner of processing to create sounds that are at times distinctly un-guitarlike. ... But what is most revealing about his approach, as evidenced by Volcano, is that Cleveland sees the guitar more as a means to an end rather than the end itself. ... (Cleveland's music) isnt fusion per se, but it has some fusion elements, in particular some of Cleveland's guitar tones; it isn't exactly progressive, yet some of the complexities and thematic development might make it so; it isn't specifically world music, although the multi-rhythmic approach, melodies, and some textures certainly would place it within that definition; and it isn't jazz by any stretch of the imagination, yet collective improvisation plays a large part. ... In the end, it's an appealingly multilayered aural experience that continues to reveal new things with every listen."
John Kelman, All About Jazz

"Barry Cleveland's third album as a leader finds the renowned guitarist and composer exploring the nuances of rhythm. Drawing from a varied palette of traditions, timbres and tonalities, Volcano bridges the impressionist leanings of his previous releases with a more audacious, kinetic approach. Listeners will appreciate the disc's pulsing rhythms, inter-weaving melodies, and layers of evocative atmospheres."
Anil Prasad, innerviews.org

"Barry Cleveland's highly imaginative and resplendent guitar playing incorporates elements from a panoply of sources including, but certainly not limited to psychedelic special f/x, progressive rock, ambient and new age soundscapes, world, jazz, funk and other (re)sources. Like Jimmy Page, for instance, he sometimes bows his electric guitar. To that, add Cleveland's keen command of digital and analog recording studio devices and techniques. All told, you've a pretty talented cat on your hands. ... Volcano is an imaginative, somewhat heady album, yet with plenty of deep-rooted rhythms to keep the whole thing from exploding into the upper thermosphere. Cleveland's sonic cyclorama is a real treat. To quote Oliver Twist, 'Please, Sir, may I have some more?'"
Robert Kaye, Abstract Logix

"Sometimes spacey, oftentimes jazzy, this fascinating take on ethnic-flavored progressive jazz (Volcano) brims with an Afro-Haitian multi-rhythmic undercurrent that is nothing short of infectious, beguiling, and ultimately seductive. Cool stuff!"
John Collinge, Progression

"Much of Cleveland's work doesnt sound like the work of your conventional guitarist at all, but rather a far-reaching compositional visionary who uses whatever instruments and processes necessary to achieve his ends."
Peter Thelen, Expose'

Full reviews of Volcano, Memory & Imagination, and Dark Matter are posted HERE