Fused
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Skin
Harmonized Records
The rhythm ensemble Mecca Bodega's sixth disc Skin not only has the expected percussion duels and barrages but also is more thematically varied than expected. For example, the second number, "Anytime Is a Good Time," includes brass and dulcimer inserts as...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
The Sound
Harmonized Records
Sometimes New Monsoon's tunes are reminiscent of those done by the early jazz-rock group Dreams, whose ranks included the Brecker brothers. The instrumental segments were fantastic, but once the vocals started, things quickly turned generic and disposable...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Flashpoint
Tone Center
Flashpoint represents saxophonist Dave Liebman's most challenging group association since his days with Miles Davis and Elvin Jones. While his band Lookout Farm performed many beautiful compositions, they weren't nearly as versatile as Flashpoint, whose...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Toto Bona Lokua
Sunnyside
The term collaboration doesn't adequately define this multitextured, impressive release that truly represents a collective musical vision rather than an all-star or competitive trio outing. Hailing from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Martinique...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Fusion for Miles: A Guitar Tribute
Tone Center
Musicians and fans that revere Miles Davis' late period work will treasure Fusion For Miles, an anthology whose participants consider "Black Satin," "Back Seat Betty" and "Spanish Key" just as important as "So What" or "Nefertiti" (which are also part of...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Mysterious Voyages: A Tribute to Weather Report
Tone Center
Weather Report made several extraordinary releases through a mostly distinguished 16-year career that further elevated the sizable reputations of coleaders saxophonist Wayne Shorter and keyboardist Joe Zawinul. Their compositional acumen provides the foundation...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalpyse: A Fusion Guitar Tribute
Tone Center
The Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame was a landmark date in jazz-rock history, a magical session that brilliantly combined the virtuosity of jazz with the relentless exuberance of rock. That's sometimes the case on this tribute date, with...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Projekt Management
Harmonized Records
Self-taught guitarist DJ Williams inserts just enough rhythmic punch in his compositions to keep things from veering into Muzak territory. There are times when his ensemble Projekt Management sound like they're revisiting '60s soul-jazz, while other times...
November 2005 By Ron Wynn
Vienna Nights: Live at Joe Zawinul's Birdland
BHM
Joe Zawinul continues to disprove the myths electronic keyboards can't be played as soulfully as their acoustic components, and mixing and matching idiomatic elements dilutes song quality. Vienna Nights blends aspects of fusion, blues, African rhythms, funk...
October 2004 By Dave Segal
Who Is This America?
Ropeadope
Can polyrhythms-no matter how hip-swivelingly funky and relentless-spark revolution? I doubt it, but Brooklyn's Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra maintains an unshakable belief in the power of making music to shake people's asses for what its members consider...
