Bassist Andy Galore puts together an assertively electric session here with some of the heaviest hitters around. Mike Stern and Oz Noy make up the formidable pair of guitarists, who go it alone and together along with saxists Bob Franceschini, Joel Frahm and Karel Ruzicka. A slew of keyboardists including Max Haymer, Jason Lindner and Jim Beard as well as drummers Gregory Hutchinson, Kenny Wollensen and Tommy Campbell join in the fray with guests Richard Bona-Samuel Torres/perc and Karel Ruzicka/fl for a mix of originals and covers.
Galore’s own “Fingerprints” has the two guitarists in fusion heaven, along with Francheschini’s tenor, while “Chicken & Scotch” is funky enough for it to be in the Average White Band repertoire. More gentle tunes like “Riannan” display the lyrical side of the two guitarists, while Galore himself is a presence more than a dominating force. He shows his tasty chops on Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” while Noy makes the strings moan, and lays the sizzle down on Miles Davis’ funky “Robot.” If these guys tour around to promote this disc, make sure you go and check them out! Whew!
Motema Music