Jeff Lorber Fusion: Galaxy (2012)

It was in 2010, with the CD ‘Now Is The Time’, that Jeff Lorber revisited the sound that he had helped to pioneer. This return to jazz fusion was heralded with critical acclaim and now, for part two, he is back with ‘Galaxy’. Full of the same funk driven energy that was a feature of ‘Now Is The Time’, and with the likes of Eric Marienthal, Jimmy Haslip and Lenny Castro all involved, ‘Galaxy’ is a wonderful throwback to the halcyon days of jazz fusion. Not only that, this 21st century version of the Jeff Lorber Fusion includes contributions from trumpeter Randy Brecker, guitarists Paul Jackson Jr. and Larry Koonse plus drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl. With eleven original compositions, including four tracks from the Jeff Lorber Fusion’s early catalogue, ‘Galaxy’ really is something to savor.

Lorber make an early statement of his funky intent with the zesty ‘Live Wire’ which not only provides a fine showcase for the percussive power of Vinnie Colaiuta but also runs to an intoxicating seven minutes in length. That said, there is magic in every second of it and much the same can be said of the intense title cut which is a perfect example of the tight, high octane performances that can be found throughout.

In similar vein is the all consuming ‘Rapids’ and, although the swaggering ‘Big Brother’ serves to recapture some of the buzz that one associates with the best examples of early contemporary jazz, ‘The Underground’ proves to be an invigorating extravaganza of the highest order.

The Latin influenced ‘The Samba’ first appeared on the 1987 album ‘Soft Space’ while ‘City’ is a reworking of the track that originally appeared on the JLF 1980 long player ‘Wizard Island’. When Lorber returns to this same collection for the velvety title tune he contrives to make it sound brand new and elsewhere Lorber uses the jazzy ‘Horace’ to a tip a hat to the legendary Horace Silver.

When, occasionally, Lorber notches down the tempo, the result is as pleasing as it is surprising and this is particularly so with the edgily mellifluous ‘Singaraja’ which is right up there with the album’s best. Yet, in the final analysis, ‘Galaxy’ is all about the funk and with ‘Monserrat’ Lorber delivers a number that, courtesy of a tasty brass infusion, sizzles from beginning to end.

‘Galaxy’ is due for release January 31, 2012, on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group and looks set to cement Lorber’s legendary status within the genre of contemporary jazz.

Tracklist:

1. Live Wire
2. Big Brother
3. Montserrat
4. Singaraja
5. Galaxy
6. City
7. Horace
8. The Samba
9. Rapids
10. Wizard Island
11. The Underground

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