Here are recent releases from gents who set the standard for fusion guitar playing back in the 1970s. Now, “70s music” has a whole new meaning!
Jeff Beck has been touring with a youthful band of Rosie Bones/voc, Carmen Vandenberg/g, Davide Sollazzi/dr and Giovanni Pallotti/b in support of this album, and the leader sounds as hip as ever. His attitude is still aggressive, and he’s got tons of hot licks available in his Fender holster, as he demonstrates on the searing “Pull It” , the blues picking and bent strings of “Shame” and the snarling wah wah of “Right Now.” What sets this album apart is the thick and thunderous drum and rhythm which at time sounds synthesized as on “The Revolution Will Be Televised” and the sassy and low ceilinged voice of Rosie Bones. She brings modern Millennial moods to the hip hopping message of “Shame” and the thoughtful and moody “Scared for the Children.” She has a snarl on her lips during pieces like “Live In The Dark.” The hues on most of the songs have a noir attitude, with lots of smoky and misty drapery hovering around. Beck still works on keeping it fresh.
Coryell goes both electric and acoustic with a hip team of Lynne Arriale/p, John Lee/b, Dan Jordan/sax-fl and Lee Pierson/dr, veering between funk, bebop and fusion. Jordan’s flute melds with the leader for a hip bopper of “Blue Your Mind” while on tenor the two get into an irresistibly soulful groove on the perennial “Manteca.” Coryell’s picking is delectable along with Arrial’s pianoand Pierson’s snappy drumming on “ Improv On 97” and while the team seems pretty and poppish on the graceful “Back To Russia” it also hearkens back to the fusion days on the grooving “If Miles Were Here.” Lots to like here!