Outward Bound, one of Philadelphia’s newest ensembles headed by saxophonist Andrew Hanna, released the epic narrative piece Prophecies of War in April 2004. Proph…
Matt Garrison and I have been friends since our days back at the Berklee College of Music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Since then Matt has become one the foremost expon…
14 Jul
Sound Travels by Jessie Allen Cooper
Wednesday, 14 July 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Sax-and-harmonica-player Jessie Allen Cooper has crafted some highly melodic and pleasurable jazzy instrumental music on his new CD, SOUND TRAVELS.This is his sixth albu…
Terry Silverlight's latest project as a bandleader delivers an assortment of modern jazz through all original compositions. A seasoned roster of guest musicians join Silver…
Dynamics are the key to The Bad Plus and their music. They are an "acoustic fusion" band which melds the energy of rock and roll to the instrumental prowess of jazz. Much l…
Give is the second outing for The Bad Plus, a group that combines a lot of styles....not all of which are jazz. As a matter of fact, their drummer David King has been quote…
06 Jul
End Of The World Party (Just In Case) by Medeski Martin & Wood
Tuesday, 06 July 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
This CD really sounds like a party. The first track, "Anonymous Skulls", which is a somber affair with a heavy organ presence, is almost like an empty house before the gues…
Guitarist Jon Durant blends elements of jazz, rock, new age and minimalism in his fifth project, "Things Behind the Sun," creating a wholly unique space.With the …
01 Jul
The New Beginning by Scott Lindenmuth Group
Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
Down Beat magazine designates a category in their reader polls called Talent Deserving Wider Recognition. Scott Lindenmuth would fit nicely there.Although well known…
Down To The Bones groove gets harder funkier and juicier on their Narada Jazz debut CELLAR FUNK. Hailed as kings of the U.K. groove jazz the ensem...
Bob Mintzer On The Body Acoustic, Bob Mintzer's first Chesky date, The Grammy' Award winner performs on bass clarinet adding his versatile sound to ...
Harald was born in Vienna, Austria in 1968; from 1987-1995 he studied Music and Physical Education at the University of Vienna, 1995 graduated with...
Pianist and composer Gary Farr who has produced and recorded on several different CDs since 1995. LOST being the first jazz CD released performed a...
17 Jun
Yo Miles! Sky Garden by Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith
Thursday, 17 June 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
If ever there were a group of musicians that spanned a universe of sound, it would be Yo Miles! featuring Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith. Sky Garden pays tribute to a pe…
With determination and a lot of faith Tales & Destinations is more of a project than it is a recording. The AE!C is a group of musicians and educators determined to help yo…
14 Jun
Guitar Supreme: Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar by Various Artists
Monday, 14 June 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
Over the years, there have been a number of recordings celebrating the music of John Coltrane (McCoy Tyner, Arkadia Jazz All Stars and Elvin Jones to name but a few). Giant…
Times 4: These guys come flying out of the gate, and they don't stop until the finish line. This is a very hot fusion band, and let me give you my impression of what "fusio…
05 Jun
Vibrationz by Prophetz of Time and Space
Saturday, 05 June 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
Prophetz of Time and Space consists of some of the greatest studio musicians in the industry. Some names might be familiar to listeners. Jerry Goodman goes way back to the …
Back in the 1970s, a mix of electric and acoustic instruments playing twisty heads and highly evolved improvised jams to hard-driving beats was called "jazz," or, more prec…
Proven bands embarking upon the comeback trail often leave much of its best work behind. Some groups reform for money, or simply to extend previous applied concepts, and in…
Jason Miles has been involved in music for many years. He has recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, Argentinean sax great Gato Barbieri, and Sting to name but a few. His …
Quickly: How many bassists could be in the bands of Bob Weir and Lou Reed at about the same time, and still be at home with the vastly divergent styles of drummer Ch…
Ryan Drolet adopts a simple approach to recording, what you hear is what you get, there is no cutting and pasting of parts or technological wizardry involved with his creat…
From the music of Pete Townsend, Paul McCartney, John Lennon et al...........And on to jazzer Joe Sample, smooth jazz guitarist Kevin Russell shows us his viable, contempor…
A remarkable collection of contemporary jazz, COZMOPOLITAN highlights and defines the genius of composer Jason Miles. Also included is a song titled "Gale Warning" by drumm…
03 May
The Nutcracker Suite-Sounds of the Holidays by James Hollihan
Monday, 03 May 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
This CD is not your ordinary holiday recording. James Hollihan, guitar player extraordinaire, has put together a fabulously innovative and entertaining instrumental jazz- c…
On the newest CD recording by Swedish pianist Mathias Landaeus, Fringe People, one may find sounds that would transport a listener back to the late 1960’s/early 1970…
27 Apr
A Guitar Supreme: Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar by Various Artists
Tuesday, 27 April 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
A Guitar Supreme: Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar is a provocative record; what it provokes will have a lot to do with your preconceptions. The collection features seve…
Bordering on the fusion side of jazz with some interestingingredients of reggae, funk, & rock..........Emerges jazz trap-sterBubbha Thomas's dynamic new presentation: "Love…
This ultra-modernistic project produced by jazz keyboardprodigy Jason Miles, embraces the best of all jazz worlds & genres,i.e. from Miles Davis to 'Tom' Jobim. Reedman Mic…
A mixer of jazz, funk, soul, and classic tunes fused into one fantastic CD. Twentysomething by Jamie Cullum, is well on its way to the top of the jazz charts. I was delight…
This is quite the interesting CD project in that the animal kingdomis portrayed through composer Frank Macchia's original music. One will always wonder about the creative f…
Guitarist Vic Juris is called a chopsmeister of the highest order who was a leader for the Muse and SteepleChase labels. Today, Juris steps out with his own diverse comp…
05 Apr
Come On In by Steve Smith's Vital Information
Monday, 05 April 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
Come On In is the eleventh release by veteran drummer Steve Smith's Vital Information, and the third consecutive to feature the line-up of Smith, guitarist Frank Gam…
28 Mar
Sky Garden by Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith (Yo Miles!)
Sunday, 28 March 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
This 2-CD offering signifies the second installment of the "Yo Miles!" consortium, spearheaded by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser. Cuneif…
Smooth Jazz is such a diverse term in this category that one hesitates to characterize it, however to compose and create in it becomes a euphoric event for some. Such must …
Satoko Fujii is a tremendous talent on the piano. The last CD I heard from her was Clouds, a series of free duets recoded with Natsuki Tamura on trumpet. Both are fe…
A world-class, all-around drummer who put in two decades with the celebrated guitar hero Pat Metheny, the versatile Paul Wertico has logged and recorded many frequent playe…
Cory Stone thinks that Maybe you will become a fan of his music as many have, if you listen to his new release. I really do not think the word maybe is the best one …
The cacophonous introduction to Scott Farr’s CD Jazz Farm has you scratching your head for a few minutes before everything settles in on the crazed opener "Grain Aug…
Among percussionists the name Paul Wertico stands for excellence in technique and rhythmic conception. The long-time Pat Metheny Group drummer is one of the chief reasons M…
Based in Montreal, Canada, this quintet led by bassist Eric Martin abides by a jazz-fusion type methodology. Formed in 1996, the unit has gone through a few personnel chang…
Out of the wondrous schools of singularly few gifted jazz guitar players, emerges one Vic Juris & his superb jazz sextet. Vic plies us with fine delicate melodies, powerful…
Jing Chi's 3D represents a modern look at 1970's fusion, alternately heavy and light. Several tracks featuring distorted guitars and overdriven blues licks would alm…
David Johnson has paid his dues and now he can call himself the Soothing Traveler for a reason. What has this man accomplished besides putting out this outstanding s…
Jimmy Haslip’s dream for Jing Chi is: bringing this group of musicians to a harder edge than their first recordings, leading them into another level of progression …
27 Feb
The Claude Bolling Suites for Flute & Jazz Piano Trio (2 CDs) by Laurel Zucker Joe Gilman David Rokeach & Jeff Neighbor
Friday, 27 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Laurel Zucker (flute), Joe Gilman (piano) and David Rokeach (percussion) and Jeff Neighbor (bass) pay tribute to The Claude Bolling Suites for Flute & Jazz Piano Trio
24 Feb
An Evening With by John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess
Tuesday, 24 February 2004
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Fusion - CD Reviews
Two lords of progressive rock teamed up one night at a Rockland County, NY venue for what most assuredly, was a very special evening. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess and guitaris…
19 Feb
Beacon From Mars and Other Psychedelic Side Trips by Kaleidoscope
Thursday, 19 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
The rocky road of Music History is paved with potholes of right sound, wrong time -- performers whose music, for various reasons, was not appreciated in its time. Bu…
17 Feb
Black Hills Jam-Preserves Volume 2 by Jam Camp
Tuesday, 17 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Sweet Jesus what a great album this is! Jam Camp could not have selected a better name for their band. Its like saying-welcome to camp, pick your instrument and get ready t…