With his latest album “Mr. MIDI Guitar,” Les Fradkin continues to push the boundaries of experimental music by reinterpreting baroque and classical instrumental music with his Starr Labs Ztar as the centerpiece. This is not just an attempt to replicate the classics, but to channel their melodies, harmonies, and rhythms through the sonic filter of modern technology.
Having long established himself as a pioneer of MIDI guitar Fradkin treats the Ztar not merely as a guitar substitute, but as a solo orchestral engine. On this album, synths and mellotron fill in for full orchestral ensembles to present the works of Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Beethoven and many more in a completely new light.
When you listen to Mr. MIDI Guitar, you’re rarely hearing traditional guitars in the conventional sense. Fradkin uses the Ztar to control a variety of sounds, including strings, keyboards, and sometimes percussive elements; effectively letting him mimic rhythm, lead, and even ensemble textures simultaneously.
Fradkin’s reinterpretation of Pachelbel’s Canon in D is the first standout moment of the album, as it effectively turns a piece that is often used as wedding music into a work of orchestral rock.
Bandcamp – Mr. Midi Guitar:
https://lesfradkin1.bandcamp.com/album/mr-midi-guitar
“Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is another strong example of bridging classical source material and modern instrumentation. The melody and structure remain intact, yet the instrumentation recasts the piece in a futuristic light, making it feel nostalgic and novel at once.
Among the closing tracks, “Ode to Joy” stands out with Fradkin setting Beethoven’s magnum opus to the beat of a march on percussion while replacing the main string-driven theme with his Ztar. The result is an absolutely rocking delivery that pays homage to Beethoven’s innovative spirit.
Production-wise, the album is arranged to give fullness and dimension despite being crafted by one person. What’s interesting is how this approach changes the emotional impact of classical pieces. Because timbres are synthetic, there is sometimes a slight distance that can feel both compelling and curiously removed from the emotional rawness of live classical performance.
Mr. MIDI Guitar is a bold, creative rethinking of classical and baroque repertoire through the lens of the Ztar. It’s a record for curious listeners: those open to hearing old masterpieces in a new light. If you approach it with an open mind, the album rewards you with glimpses of what classical heritage might become when filtered through modern creativity.