Search - Scott Henderson, Gary Willis, Tribal Tech :: Reality Check

Great modern fusion

05/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a strong effort by the californian aliens of fusion. It is one the best records of the 90's. The compositions are sophisticated but the solos are still soulful and bluesy (especially those by Scott Henderson). I'm myself a bass player for about 12 years and I think Gary Willis is one the most interesting modern bass players. His solos are very impressive. The man has so many good ideas and his groove is great. The track "Nite Club" (written by Gary Willis) alone make this album a must buy. "Foreign Affairs" (written by Scott Kinsey, a wonderful keyboard player) is also a great fusion tune even if it's very Weather Reportish (but how to avoid this influence ?) ."

Fusion music is "cosa nostra"

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 07/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band is stellar period. This album is stellar period. There's an amazing fusion tune "Foreign affairs" that alone is worth the price. The fantastic musicianship of this combo is quite easy to understand from the exact beginning. The short Stella by starlight rendition is behind words, the harmonization conventional but courageous, consistent but free, and moreover short. In a couple of minutes there is a true story, it's complete. It's a jewel. You don't have to blow a hundred choruses to explain a tune, to say the thing the tune wants you to say. Bird was the epitome of this approach. A short solo, but beyond words, technical challenging, lyrical unreachable and complete in itself. A couple of choruses maximum, and if you are a master player that's it. I don't like the Coltrane approach to endless improvisation. It's really boring in my opinion !!! Talkin' about this album the rest of the music is heavy fusion played at incredible level. I love the songs, I love the album, I love a lot of solos from all the guys. I don't like Scott Henderson's solo work when he tries to play too bluesy on difficult chord changes. I am a Jazz guitarist myself; I would prefer a more tonal approach, less pentatonic and guitaristic and more musical, more oriented to chord meanings. But that's oly my taste of course. He is an amazing player obviously, a scientist, he could do whatever he wants, it is simply his choice to play like that, and there's nothing wrong with it. I prefer more straight ahead solos... that's all. In the end this is a great album, probably their best. A great band. In my opinion best band name for a modern futuristic band, strongly rooted in blues, jazz, fusion tradition but with a musical guru approach. Fantastic. Fusion super heroes !!!!"