Recorded a number of years ago, this finally discovered album has the late and great guitarist Allan Holdsworth with compatriots Alan Pasqua/p-key, Chad Wackerman/dr and Jimmy Haslip/b caught in an inspired mood. The notes are sketchy as to the exact date, and it may even be lost tracks or a gig reflected from 2009’s Blues For Tony, but there’s no doubt about the energy emitted.
The team is upbeat and intense for Holdsworth’s searing and sinewy axe on the title peace, while Pasqua mixes keyboards and organ for a moody “Blues For Tony”, featuring Wackerman in a wrist wringing mood. Holdsworh gives an ominous and ambient intro to “Ud Wud” before Haslip and Pasqua get into the funky chicken, while the pianist is rich and romantic on the ivories for his opening on the dark prog rocker “San Michele”. Haslip’s plugged in bass snaps like a rubber band on the back beating “It Must Be Jazz” and swings on the sinister “Red Alert”. This quartet, at many moments, sounds something like what Genesis could have been if they took some extra protein in their diet, as on the melodic mid tempo “Looking Glass”. Real enjoyable, and the only regret is that so few saw this band in action, and it was quite active.