Terry Silverlight is a drummer of vast experience in all facets of music. He has written jingles, scored for network shows and films, toured the world over with the top nam…
George Pajon Jr. is a guitarist of exceptional ability. Most known for his writing and playing with the group Black Eyed Peas, he has been a big influence in helping to sha…
10 Feb
The Mike Corrado Band Live at Thalian Hall (DVD) by Mike Corrado Band
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
When was the last time an active duty Marine performed in a jazz- rock band and released a live DVD? This is not a trivia question; it’s a reality for one man and his band.…
09 Feb
Raw Meet by Elliott Sharp / Melvin Gibbs / Lance Carter
Monday, 09 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
The power of three: what rock-loving types call a "power trio," i.e., Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience/Band of Gypsies, the guitar/bass/drums setup - a triumvirate; jazz love…
Recently released in the continuation of the Blue Series on Thirsty Ear Records is JUNK MAGIC, spirited by keyboardist Craig Taborn and performed with drummer David King, v…
Though most of us likely know of drummer Paul Wertico from his 18 years and 7 Grammys with the Pat Metheny Group, what many may not know is that Wertico's also got his own …
03 Feb
Justice and Judgement by Maki Mannami
Tuesday, 03 February 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
A very thoughtful piece of work. New York meeting with Japan; Laurie Anderson meeting with fusion.Maki reveals an enviable zest for minimalistic yet harmonious avant-gar…
Keyboardist Craig Taborn institutes a bit of cosmic, jazz-funk amid facets of the avant-garde here on his latest effort for this forward-moving record label. The music is u…
Spiked with elements of humor to complement the artists’ superb musicianship, the CD cover art conspicuously reminds this writer of the classical, "Angel Records" label. Mo…
26 Jan
Fact Of The Matter by Josh Goode Band
Monday, 26 January 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
I have a hard time staying away from the word interesting when the music fits the bill. I equate the word in reference to music with thought provoking, intelligent and crea…
One wouldn’t usually associate wonderfully ‘wild and techno’ WARP RECORDS with jazz.And then along came Squarepusher.Still heavily comprised of electric sound, his lates…
Multi-keyboardist, programmer and composer Craig Taborn’s newest album is a bold, decisive, inspired and fantastic recording that makes an imperative statement about the di…
There may be no surf in Cleveland, but in Pyrenees, France, the waves must be surreal, if this platter is any indication. VRIL are a trio whose membership crosses many inte…
17 Jan
SHAFT - Music from the Soundtrack by Isaac Hayes
Saturday, 17 January 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Next to Hot Buttered Soul the SHAFT - Music from the Soundtrack album has stood the test of time as an utter jazz-blues-soul-pop classic. This was an excellen…
Down To The Bone is a UK trio+ combo who lay down some funky groove music akin to the Blackbirds, Eddie Harris, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express and the Meters - not poppy ja…
Drop is very talented band that plays a variety of music including hip-hop, rap, jazz and reggae. Their five-track EP Summer Sessions proves that they are talented m…
On These Times, his auspicious debut on ESC Records, three-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Mike Stern joins forces with stellar saxophonist Kenny Garrett (a fellow M…
03 Jan
ZEN CD - A Ninja Tune Retrospective/ A Retrospective of Ninja Tune Remixes by Various Artists
Saturday, 03 January 2004
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
The fact that 2003 was the year in jazz of the original jazz tunes vs. the electronic/remixed ones is probably apparent. Perhaps it is even redundant to say that the trend …
It would appear that recording for a new label can really invigorate an artist; it happened with Terence Blanchard, whose 2003 Blue Note release, Bounce, is a highli…
17 Dec
Anuta Was Here by George Lesiw Band
Wednesday, 17 December 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
In August of 1969, Miles Davis began recording Bitches Brew, one of the most groundbreaking and phenomenal albums in the history of jazz. When released in 1970, t…
15 Dec
The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions by Miles Davis
Monday, 15 December 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Two months before Miles Davis went into the studio to record the music in this set, he claimed he "could put together the greatest rock ‘n roll band you ever heard." A r…
Thelonious Moog consists of Steve Million and Joe "Guido" Welsh playing the compositions of Thelonious Monk on vintage synthesizers, backed by a few side men playing bass, …
On first listen to Mimi Rabson's new Ambient-Fusion Jazz disc "Music", I was given a taste of a musician ready to make her mark on the world. I was blown away by her chops,…
30 Nov
Easy Listening by Tales From The Fridge
Sunday, 30 November 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
This record is surprising in many ways. For a start, it is a record with a new Swedish group. Secondly, it's a live recording produced by a guy who normally produces pop mu…
21 Nov
Words and Music by David White Trio
Friday, 21 November 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Playful and smart interactions between trio members make Words and Music by the David White Trio an engaging small group effort. A Massachusetts-based guitari…
20 Nov
Temporal Analogues of Paradise by Jonas Hellborg / Shawn Lane / Jeff Sipe
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Categorizing the music on the CD re-release of Temporal Analogues of Paradise (TAP) is not an easy task. In light of what’s been previously written, I feel it’s appr…
02 Nov
Climbing Somewhere by Paul Stranahan
Sunday, 02 November 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Paul Stranahan's fusion band has everything that the aficionados of this type of music could possibly want. From the delicate to the bold, Staranahan has composed 11 tun…
Baltimore-based guitarist Mark Stanley cites Frank Zappa as an influence. An element of that influence certainly reflects in Stanley’s refusal to be easily categorized. He’…
Guitarist Prasanna poses quite a few interesting propositions throughout this truly novel release. His East Indian decent serves as a basis for his unique fusing of dispara…
21 Oct
To Pagham and Beyond… (180-Gram Vinyl LP) by Skin Alley
Tuesday, 21 October 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Skin Alley’s second album To Pagham and Beyond.... is a continuation of the progressive-rock-jazz-fusion brilliance of their first release Skin Alley(1969). …
This is Japan's version of electronic underground music led by one of the leading experts in the genre. This journey will take you on a voyage to far off places filled with…
14 Oct
Permanent Solutions by Bernd Brothers
Tuesday, 14 October 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Here’s some great electric guitar fusion, with excellent funk/melodic electric bass guitar. The Bernd Brothers are Bill Bernd on bass and Steve Bernd on electric gui…
One of the most redeeming qualities about jazz as a genre is that it is the first known crossover style of music. With well over 100 different associated styles, it has als…
12 Oct
Gigantic by J. A. Granelli & Mr. Lucky
Sunday, 12 October 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
J.A. Granelli & Mr. Lucky's latest CD Gigantic is an entertaining ride that is somewhat hard to categorize. The quartet seems to have something to do with rock and r…
First off, I like this style and have enjoyed listening to this disc over the past couple weeks. It’s great music for driving, and can also serve as nice background party m…
09 Oct
Presents Project Volume I by Callisto
Thursday, 09 October 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Every year, thousands of artists record and promote their brand of jazz in hopes of elevating the consciousness of America's only original art form. Four individuals who pe…
What Is Paragon? is a set of modern jazz/rock fusion, more in-tune with the early-to-mid 1970s model than the more recent Smooth Jazz/Quiet Storm stuff. While it’s
Boston, Ma., performer/educator Mimi Rabson packs a wallop via her highly electrified violin jaunts. She’s classically trained, but opts for a jazz-fusion route with this r…
This CD was at the least very complicated to pronounce, the music however, was good. Most of the tracks had a very cosmic vibe to them. Elannunaqi as the CD is entitled, is…
The inside sleeve of Prasanna’s latest, Be the Change says "This album may represent certain fantasies that a young kid may have had growing up in South India"; comb…
20 Sep
Gather Round by Jim Love & The Blue Groove
Saturday, 20 September 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Jim Love & The Blue Groove are a wonderful fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and funky beats all blended into a phenomenal collection of sweet urban fusion jazz. I enjoyed each trac…
Electric bassist/composer Hugh Hopper has long been on that cutting-edge nexus of the UK fusion scene - he was a longtime member of Soft Machine, a late 1960s-late 70s band…
15 Sep
You, Are The One, We Can by Kieskagato
Monday, 15 September 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
You, Are The One, We Can ummm.... interesting title for an album isn’t it? I guess it could mean a number of things depending on who you are and what your situation …
Keyboardist Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer’s compositions are weirdly embellished within a potpourri of contemporary classical undertones, progressive rock stylizations, and extre…
02 Sep
Tomorrow Never Knows by Steve Marcus
Tuesday, 02 September 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
During the 1960s (and into the early 70s), many jazz players made attempts to be "with it" (or as the young people say these daze, "down") re: appealing to the younger crow…
Did you ever hear of Spiritual Vertigo? The band Sonus Umbra knows what it is. The point is clear on their new release. This project is all about having a fear of…
The present-day Fusioneer refuses to die! This paraphrase is based on a quote from an early Frank Zappa/Mothers album, most appropo as he’s one of the goddaddys of Fusion. …
In the liners, drummer Jerry Granelli mentions, "the heart of the band is risk, not knowing, curiosity and nowness." In effect, this quasi, blues-jazz improvisational rock …
I have heard several Gongzilla albums and have been very impressed with them all. East Village Sessions is easily the most artistic and creative work that they have …
05 Aug
Live (And Very Plugged In) by Dave Weckl Band
Tuesday, 05 August 2003
Published in
Fusion - CD Reviews
Drummer-led ensembles seem to gravitate towards two disparate concepts. First there is the idea of promoting the ensemble and compositions, "music over chops"; leaders incl…