John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension | To The One

Tags

Fusion, Guitar, John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension - To The One

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension ::|:: To The One – [Abstract Logix, 2010]

With his new album To The One, iconic guitarist, composer and 2010 Grammy Winner John McLaughlin looks backwards and forwards simultaneously. The six original songs are hauntingly evocative – with roiling rhythmic swells, modal expanses, and telepathic group interaction echoing the profound influence of John Coltrane’s 1965 spiritual jazz masterpiece A Love Supreme. The music of To The One was set down in the studio with very few overdubs, by McLaughlin’s current performing outfit, the Fourth Dimension: Gary Husband (keyboards, drums), Etienne M’Bappe (electric bass), and Mark Mondesir (drums).

Compositional devices clearly inspired by Coltrane are fused with elements of McLaughlin’s own multifaceted approach, all delivered with a group empathy and shared vision that harkens back to Coltrane’s fearless mid-’60s quartet of Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison. The effect of Jones’ kaleidoscopic approach to rhythm and drumming is especially felt, brilliantly recast and explored via McLaughlin’s gift for complex metrical structures.

..:: Source: Amazon.com & Abstract Logix ::..

Jimi Tunnell | Trilateral Commission

Tags

Fusion, Guitar, Jazz

Jimi Tunnell | Trilateral Commission – [ Art of Life Records, 2005]

Jimi Tunnell, Trilateral Comission

Jimi Tunnell, Bendik Hofseth and Rachel Z were all members of Mike Mainieri’s Steps in the 90’s and shared stage together while Jeff Andrews was playing bass on the Yin-Yang album from 1992. So this is not surprising that the guitarist hired those musicians for his own projects and no less surprising that the music shares common aspects with Steps; Trilateral Commission is melodic fusion in the best context of the word; it is very close at times to the Joe Zawinul’s Syndicate (Zalimo in its title alone could be a link but no doubt’s left when you hear the rhythm section flowing away!), it has the obligatory ballads (where Bendik Hofseth especially shines), the classic throat yodling of Turkish percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Rachel’s always impressive keyboard flights, tight and cooking drumming by Omar Hakim and more yet.

Last and not least, it reveals the guitar playing of the leader, unfortunately too unknown, somewhere between Mike Stern and Wayne Krantz and deserving to be more known and heard; all in all a very inspiring album that should get more than one spin on your CD player! —Pierre Tassone (Denmark)

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Ximo Tebar | Steps

Tags

Fusion, Guitar, Ximo Tebar

Ximo Tebar | Steps – [Sunnyside Records, 2009]

Ximo Tebar, Steps

Playing jazz guitar involves mastering the tradition laid down by the modern masters of the instrument from Montgomery to Metheny while applying those concepts to create an individual voice that expresses itself in a myriad of stylistic inventions, conceptions, and dimensions. The Spanish-born, New York-based guitarist Ximo Tebar meets all of the aforementioned criteria with the release of his latest Sunnyside release, Steps; an invigorating and engaging record date that demonstrates what the guitar can do in the hands of a master at the top of his instrumental, interpretation, and compositional game.

Tebar is backed by an impressive array of American and Spanish musicians: Acoustic and electric bassists Alex Blake and Boris Kozlov, Orrin Evans and Santi Navalon on Fender Rhodes and keyboards, drummer Donald Edwards, vocalist Ester Andujar, Ramon Cardo and Kiko Berenguer, on soprano and tenor saxophones, respectively, Stefan Braun, cello, and David Pastor, trumpet. With Tebar s fleet-fingered, pan-genre guitar approach, supported by an ensemble that effortlessly leap-frogs fusion, Latin, and straight-ahead contexts, this disc delivers an outstanding aural document that is, in the words of Duke Ellington, Beyond Category.

Robert Glasper -||- Double Booked

Tags

African American, Fusion, Jazz, Piano

Robert Glasper - Double Booked (Blue Note Records, 2009)

Robert Glasper -||- Double Booked – [Blue Note Records, 2009]

Pianist Robert Glasper presents both sides of his musical persona with Double-Booked, his third album for Blue Note Records, which will be released on August 25. The album bridges Glasper’s parallel careers as the leader of an acclaimed jazz trio and a first-call sideman with hip-hop artists such as Mos Def, Q Tip and The Roots.

Moving nimbly from the acoustic Robert Glasper Trio to the hip-hop fusion Robert Glasper Experiment, the young keyboardist puts his versatility front and center. Special guests on the album include vocalist Bilal and a cameo appearance from rapper Mos Def.

Glasper will also be touring this summer as a member of R&B singer Maxwell’s band. Maxwell kicks off his 2009 North American tour on June 17. More information about tour dates can be found here.

..:: Source: Blue Note Records ::..

Christian McBride | Live at Tonic

Tags

African American, Bassist, Christian McBride, Fusion, Jazz, Ropeadope Records

Christian McBride, Live

Christian McBride | Live at Tonic [Ropeadope Records, 2006] Revisited

Ropeadope Records dropped a bomb with bassist Christian McBride’s three-disc release title “Live @ Tonic” recorded at Manhattan’s Tonic Club back in January 2006.

From the first spin, this adventure by McBride encapsulates the essence of what jazz is all about by embracing the freedom of expression! McBride and ensemble intensely swings with an infectious attitude while attached to funk induced rhythms of James Brown while infusing the symmetry of jazz-fusion masked by the band’s astounding play!

Jabberloop | And Infinite Jazz

Tags

Fusion, Jabberloop, Japan, Jazz

Jabberloop

Jabberloop | And Infinite Jazz [Sony/Import/2007]

A silly name, but a decidedly deep little combo — one who follow strongly in the Japanese club jazz mode of Sleepwalker and Soil & Pimp Sessions! As with those groups, the instrumentation here is almost all acoustic and played live — saxes, trumpet, piano, bass, and drums — plus just a bit of keyboards, slight programming, and turntable work to round out a dancefloor groove slightly — all wrapped together wonderfully in a host of soaring, upbeat rhythms! The tenor and soprano sax work on the album are especially nice — often warmly melodic, but filled with feeling and a nice sense of edge that keeps things real throughout. Titles include “The Art Of Blakey“, “In Groove“, “Ugetsu“, “Missing My Bird“, “Source Of Spring“, “Q Track“, and “Look To The Sky“. Japan has always had a strong love of Jazz and new bands seem to be emerging regularly and attracting global attention. ~ Blaks Lair.blogspot.com

Subfive | Safari

Tags

European, Funk, Fusion, Jazz

Subfive, Safari

Subfive | Safari [Nu-Voices/Fusion]

Finally the much-anticipated 2nd studio album from top Swedish funk/fusion quintet Subfive is released on CD baby.

”Safari” is very much a band effort, with all members involved in the creative process and sharing producer duties. The subfive sound has evolved considerably since the debut album, maturing into a highly dynamic and multi-faceted ensemble entity with a slightly rougher edge, while still maintaining the Subfive trademarks of lyricism, tightly woven, infectious grooves and high-level interaction. ”Safari” was very well recieved in Japan, upon its release earlier this fall. ~ CDBaby.com

Sleep Walker | Into The Sun

Tags

Culture, Ensemble, Fusion, Jazz

Sleep Walker | Into The Sun [Jazz/Fusion]

Sleep Walker

In 2002, Sleep Walker released their debut album ‘Sleep Walker’ from Especial records. The album won the high acclaim from Jazzanova and Laurent Garnier and was successful in appealing to a wide range of listeners from all tastes. In 2004, Sleep Walker released the single ‘The Voyage’ featuring Pharoah Sanders and in the spring of 2005, they released another single ‘River of love’, which was followed by an Especial Records compilation album ‘Essence of Especial’.

Sleep Walker are a Japanese jazz band featuring Masato Nakamura (sax), Hajime Yoshizawa (piano), Kiyoshi Ikeda (bass) and Nobuaki Fujii (drums). – djdownload.com

Nu-Voices [Carter, Diamond & Spoke]

Tags

Culture, Ensemble, Fusion, Guitar, Jazz, Trumpet

Hi everyone, we’ve discovered three more talented “Nu-Voices” this week for you to check out. Enjoy!

Dave Carter | Commitment and Change

Dave Carter

Debut solo album from Skerik’s Syncopated Taint trumpeter Dave Carter, certain to entrance listeners with its beautiful, haunting melodies and seductive rhythms.

Tuatara trumpet player and Jazz sideman Dave Carter finally steps out with his first solo album, “Commitment And Change.” Co-produced by Dave and Drummer/Composer/Fast Horse Recordings founder Barrett Martin, Dave’s debut album is certain to entrance the listener with its beautiful, haunting melodies and seductive rhythms.

– CDBaby.com

Quasimode | Sounds Of Peace

Tags

Culture, Fusion, Jazz

Quasimode

A deeper sound than usual for Quasimode — and that’s saying a lot, given their previous albums! There’s a fullness here that’s really amazing — a further extension of their already righteous approach to jazzy grooves, into territory that’s even more mindblowing, soul-searching, and perfectly played! As before, there’s lots of upbeat acoustic rhythms on the set — club jazz, but not of the fake variety — topped with searing horn work that includes guest performances from members of Sleep Walker, Soil & Pimp, and Jazz Collective! But almost even better are the few vocal cuts — featuring either Dwight Trible or Carmen Lundy — both singers we totally love from a classic jazz perspective, sounding even more wonderful here in the company of Quasimode. The whole thing’s great — an album we’d stack proudly next to our older favorites on Impulse or Strata East — and titles include “Take The New Frontiers”, “Finger Tip”, “Young Black Horse”, “One Possibility”, “Rumble In The Jungle”, “Midnight Flower”, and “Sound Of Peace”. – Quasimode