Search - Steve Smith, Dave Liebman, Aydin Esen :: Flashpoint

With all due respect...

Eric A. Rogers | Troy,NY | 10/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't agree that Dave Liebman dominates this session. Mind you, he's a living legend and he always plays well, but AYDIN ESEN is extremely dangerous! AYDIN has his own unique harmonic vocabulary and an amazing technical command with which to bring it to us. It's a real treat to hear these four great talents together on one record. While I gave it five stars, I do have one small complaint. Just once, I'd like to hear Anthony Jackson take an extended solo. Bottom line:If you love modern jazz and fusion, but feel like you have heard it all before, this disc should wake you up very nicely! -E.R. Troy,NY"

The great fusion revival . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 08/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . now playing at a venue near you.



OK, lately we've had Return by Bill Connors, one of the best fusion discs ever made; Mysterious Voyages, the magical Weather Report tribute disc; Dennis Chambers' Outbreak; Dave Fiuczynski's Kif; plus great stuff by the Charlie Hunter Trio, as well as his many side projects, e.g., Groundtruther, Garage a Trois, and Hunter/Previte; Critters Buggin'; Fareed Haque's Garaj Mahal discs and Cosmic Hug; Derek Trucks' Soul Serenade; and not to forget the transcendent Little Worlds by Bela Fleck.



What on earth do all these discs have in common, I'm sure you're asking yourself. Me, I think they're more jazz-rooted than their fusion forebears. And that's what makes this fusion renaissance seem like it's gonna stick this time around.



Take the disc under review. It's difficult to deny that Dave Liebman, the guy with the foremost jazz chops in the group, dominates, just as Wayne Shorter always dominated Weather Report whenever he wasn't relegated to the background: Liebman wrote the most (and best) songs (four, tied with Aydin Esen, another huge jazz presence); he plays the best solos (note especially his work on soprano on "The Gentle Warrior," his tribute to the late Bob Berg); and his playing vaults this session out of somewhat generic fusion territory into the stratosphere.



Make no mistake, the other players (Steve Smith, drums, ghatam, and udu; Aydin Esen, keyboards; and Anthony Lake, contrabass guitar) also play their butts off, especially Esen, who manages to whip off engaging acoustic piano solos with one hand while managing tasty synth stylings with the other. But it's Liebman who always imprints an indelible jazz sensibility that stamps this group as special. His soprano playing especially marks him as one of the premier practitioners of that difficult instrument, right up there with the late Steve Lacy and Wayne Shorter. And he's no slouch on tenor, either, sounding somewhere between Michael Brecker and Joe Lovano. His tenor solo on "Yildiz" burns with white-hot intensity.



All in all, a great effort by some killer players in which the whole, surprisingly--because this seldom happens in these superstar sessions--greatly exceeds the sum of the parts."

Flashpoint

Kenneth F. Simonds | Winston-Salem, NC | 10/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent fusion / jazz / instumental adventure with some of the best players in the genre! I am a semi-professional bassist, so I mainly got this as a fan of Anthony Jackson, and he does not disappoint, being the consummate pro that he is. Being in the rhythm section I also appreciate a good drummer, and Steve Smith is one of my favorites, and he showcases his talents exceptionally well also. I was not familiar with keyboardist Aydin Esen and saxophonist Dave Liebman, but they are top New York session pros and it shows, sonically painting distinctive soundscapes with amazing technical ability. The recording and mixing are impeccable, with every instrument clearly heard and complimenting each other perfectly.

Many of the tracks are somewhat dark, brooding or moody, sometimes springing into a lighter, celebratory mood, but always intriguing musically. The songs reminded me of my last visit to New York on a cool, grey late October weekend, but with the lively, captivating energy that is New York.

With frequent time changes, unique soundscapes, and adventurous solos from all the musicians, there is always something to intrigue the ear of fusion and jazz fans. If you like busy instrumental music that still delivers interesting feel and displays virtuosic playing, you will enjoy this. I give 4 stars rather than 5 only because occaisionally the busy instrumentation can get a little tedious, but if you want lessons on how to excel at your instrument or just love adventurous jazz, this is one to have!"