If you think there are no new ideas in music, have a listen to these two albums…
Eitan Kenner plays a myriad of keyboards while creating a mix and match collection of settings of himself by himself, or with a rotating team of David Frazier Jr-Noam Israeli-Diego Joaquin Ramierz/dr, Tamir Shmerling/b, Andrew Whitbeck-Nitzan Bar/g, Clay Lyons-Jonathan Greenstein/sax, Wayne Tucker/tp, Jamey Haddad/perc and even the qanun played by Tamer Pinarbasi. WHEW!
Artists such as Bud Powell, James Tayler, Pat Metheny and Gentle Giant are listed on the liner notes as inspirations, and the wide girth is evident, as the full band does some upbeat fusion a la Yes on “”8 Ball City” or the Emerson/Lake/Palmer inspired “Candyland” whle the team rocks out on “Weasel Pond.” Latin mellow soul grooves well on “Janelle” and a hip bass line bops on “Toy Soldiers.” Kenner does some solo outings that get ethereal on the electrics for “Life (Small)” while doing more noodles than a Shanghai soup kitchen on “Play/Dad Mario” and the digital “Press Start to Play.” Frisky fun and fusion.
Son of famed vibist Terry Gibbs, drummer Gerry Gibbs has successfully carved his own path, walking the tightrope of mainstream jazz and sounds beyond. Here, he teams with a group of multiple instrumentalist like Alex Collins,(who plays saxes, guitar, keyboards, vibes and even sings), Gianluca Renzi/b-g-perc and a collection nof vocalists and guests to create a “soundtrack to the heavens.” The concise 19 songs feature a choir of voices, as on the ethereal “The Calm Before The Storm” whle the team shows a funk factor on “The Streets” and swinging fusion with chants on “Oh! Yeah!”. Synth sounds reminiscent of vintage Weather Report get into deep vibes on “Friends Before We Were Friends” while some social political chanting is delivered on “Volkswagens, Peace Signs & Dahikis.” The album feels like a musical journey, with Gibbs at the drivers seat producing festive homages on “Chick Corea” or a soulful “Mike & Lenny.” If there’s a tour with this band, don’t miss it, but how many people can fit on the stage?!?