New Jing Chi CD in June

Jazz-rock trio Jing Chi-comprised of guitarist Robben Ford, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta-will release its third album, 3D, on June 29 via Tone Center. 3D is a follow-up to last year’s live recording, Jing Chi- Live at Yoshi’s, and the band’s second studio album after a self-titled, 2002 effort.

Haslip, best known for his membership in the fusion group Yellowjackets, explained that he wanted this album to be heavier than Jing Chi’s previous albums. “When this project started coming together I wanted it to have a harder edge than the first record,” Haslip said. “I wanted to achieve yet another level of progression in the trio as far as composition and playing are concerned. And I think we’ve accomplished that on this record.”

Ford was another founding member of Yellowjackets and is also known for his work touring with Miles Davis in the ’80s. Colaiuta is a veteran session drummer who’s played on numerous jazz dates and spent time in the bands of Frank Zappa and Joni Mitchell.

3D also features the first contributions made to the band by outside musicians. Larry Goldings lends his unique Hammond B3 sound to a few ambient interludes that appear throughout the album, These tracks also feature electronic textures produced by Steve Tavaglione (who plays the Electronic Wind Instrument) and Judd Miller (on Electronic Valve Instrument). R&B singer Robert Cray also appears as a special guest on 3D‘s lone vocal track, a remake of the 1927 Blind Willie Johnson blues tune “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”

For more information on Jing Chi, including sound clips from past albums, visit www.shrapnelrecords.com.

Originally Published May 21, 2004