When Al Dimeola last played here with his plugged in band, he raised his fist and shouted “Fusion will last forever!” Here are two recent releases that testify to the long lasting glories of the last great movement in jazz.
Joshua Kwassman plays reeds, percussion and piano while leading an exciting and ambitious team of Angelo Di Loreto/p, Aria Jay/voc, Gilad Heksleman/g, Sarah Markle/cello, Jeff Miles/g, Craig Akin/g and Rodrigo Recabarren/dr-perc through an avalanche of sounds and moods. A pair of tunes, “Heartwork” and “All’s Well That Ends” time in at around 12 minutes and take you on tsunami waves that start with slight piano currents and drum rhythms that turn into a cavalcade of emotions with hard hitting guitars and Kwassman’s searing and crying clarinet and soprano sax. The tunes gradually ebb and flow like a roller coaster ride, which prepares you for the mammoth 24 minute “Kyoto.” This tune mixes piercing drumming, yearning piano and dramatic mood swings that mix jazz, classical and world folk to form an otherworldly yet alluring whole. Other tunes such as “Let Me Dream…” meld acoustic guitar and bass whereas the closing “May Our Children Do Us Better” comes across as the sound effects of a crimson sunset. Inspiring and adventurous.
Drummer/composer Simon Phillips brings together Andy Timmons/g, Steve Weingart/key and Steve Weingart/b for a hard hitting mix of blues, rock and jazz. Timmons’ guitar is clean on the slinky blues “Imaginary Ways” which also spotlights some rich keyboard huges. Hip tablas set a riveting undercurrent on the hard hitting “Narmada” while hints of Di Meola sear through on the energetic “Catalyst.” Bass and keyboards create a hip and spacey mood on “Circle Eleven” and Phillips delivers a funky backbeat on “You Can’t But You Can” while the team goes off to the races on the fun and frantic “Undercover.” Fist pumping music with brains!