Alan Pasqua: The Anti-Social Club (2007)

Keyboardist Alan Pasqua is the headliner on "The Anti Social Club," however, that doesn't mean he has to be the star. But -- wait a minute -- let's just give him credit for putting together a jazz band that is shaped by rock elements, yet never loses its jazz roots. In displaying that, the band is dominated easily by the work of guitarist Nels Cline, a star of Wilco, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. The guitarist, for instance, is the heart of "George Russell" a hard-working blues, and also sets the course for "New Rhodes." The latter number eventually becomes the home of the trumpeter and saxophonist Jeff Ellwood. The piece also is driven by bassist Jimmy Haslip from the Yellowjackets. Akinmusire stands out on a meditative "Prayer" and the jazz-leaning title cut. None of this is to suggest Pasqua doesn't help the effort. He offers a strong solo on "New Rhodes" and his backup work throughout the album provides a richness that makes the seven-piece band sound bigger than it is. © Bob Karlovits Pittsburg Tribune [November 2007]
Tracklist:

1 The Antisocial Club (9:48)
2 George Russell (10:28)
3 Prayer (3:36)
4 New Rhodes (7:57)
5 Fast Food (8:22)
6 Wicked Good (9:08)
7 Message to Beloved Souls Departed (4:48)

All tracks composed by Alan Pasqua

Personnel:

Alan Pasqua - Keyboards, Piano
Nels Cline - Guitars
Jimmy Haslip - Bass
Scott Amendola - Drums
Alex Acuna - Percussion
Jeff Ellwood - Saxophones
Ambrose Akinmusire - Trumpet

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Chris Beckers: Nightcruising (2003)

A selection of music by guitarist, composer and producer Chris Beckers from 1981 - 2003. 'Nightcruising' contains 15 remastered tracks.
Personnel: Chris Beckers (guitars), Ernie Watts (saxophones), Billy Cobham (drums), Abraham Laboriel (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Jimmy Haslip (bass), Alex Acuna (drums), Paulinho da Costa (percussion), Dick Morrissey (tenor saxophone), Gerry Brown (drums), Jasper van't Hof (keyboards), Michiel Borstlap (piano), Saskia Laroo (trumpet), Luluk Purwanto (violin), Herman Wolters (keyboards), Marcel Schimscheimer (bass), Marcel Serierse (drums), Liber Toriente (percussion), Jeroen Vierdag (bass), Will Maas (organ), Manuel Hugas (bass), Deff Cramer (keyboards), Cees van der Laarse (bass), Eddie Conard (percussion), Wim Dijkgraaf (bass), Johan Vermuyen (saxophones), Nippy Noya (percussion), Jurre Haanstra (orchestral arrangements)

Tracklist:
01. Splash
02. New Song
03. Seven Star Motel
04. Gentle Grand
05. Whales
06. Super Red
07. Shooting Colours
08. Chat
09. The Grass is Greener
10. Roadmovie
11. Brazilian Air
12. Windstrider
13. Cruising
14. Native Blend
15. Skyline Filters
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David Boswell: Windows (2012)

“A guitar innovator, a brilliant virtuoso, David has long had a musical vision of his own, and he has developed into a significant composer. While the music on Windows can be called modern jazz and at times shows the influence of Pat Metheny (who made a strong impact on Boswell in his early days), the results are quite original and beyond simple classification as anything but creative music.  Often cinematic, the playing is lyrical and melodic, and the performances are unpredictable, surprising, and filled with rich melodies and colorful ensembles.  His music has often been heard on smooth jazz radio stations, yet it really is beyond description, fusing together his previous musical experiences with his own fresh ideas to form a new type of 21st century jazz.”    ~   Scott Yanow  - Jazz Historian/Journalist

Personnel: David Boswell - electric and acoustic guitars, guitaralele, mandolin, guitar synthesizer, voice, MB Gordy - drums and percussion, John Boswell - piano, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Dean Taba - bass, Rod MacDowell - bass, John Fumo - trumpet

Tracklist:
1. Windows 6:01
2. Travelolgue 5:24
3. Smile 4:20
4. Look Outside 4:46
5. Never Look Back 8:27
6. La Nights 4:15
7. Tangerine Tango 7:36
8. Perhaps 6:40
9. What You See 5:41
10. Moon Blue 7:53
11. Emerald City 5:33
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MSM Schmidt: Transit (2007)

Hard to believe the guy is an amateur... The strenght of this record lies in the fact that the songs are really good. Then the stellar line-up takes them to another dimension. Excellent contemporary jazz/melodic fusion album.

Tracklist:
01. Journey To Fukuoka   
02. Little Joe   
03. Country X   
04. Song for Michel (dedicated to Michel Colombier)   
05. Rizma   
06. Interlude   
07. Caroline   
08. Slow Moves   
09. X-Press (More than words Kin Sey)   
10. Sphere   
11. Falling Down   
12. Country X Acoustic version

Personnel: Vinnie Colaiuta, Kirk Covington, Wolfgang Haffner & Joel Rosenblatt (Drums); Dave Carpenter, Jimmy Earl, Ric Fierabracci, Jimmy Haslip, Will Lee & Ernest Tibbs (Bass); Scott Henderson & Mike Miller (Guitar); Mitchel Forman, David Garfield & Scott Kinsey, Kai Thomsen & MSM Schmidt (Keyboards); Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione & Ernie Watts (Saxophone); Rick Braun & Walt Fowler (Trumpet); Brad Dutz (Percussion); Judd Miller (EVI)

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MSM Schmidt: Destination (2009)

The composer and keyboarder MSM Schmidt (Germany) wins for his newest recording „Destination“ international renowned fusion-jazz musicians like: Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead, Frank Zappa) on vibes, on drums Joel Rosenblatt (Bill Evans,Spyro Gyra), Simon Phillips (Toto, Mike Oldfield) und Wolfgang Haffner (Passport, Till Brönner), on bass Jimmy Haslip (Yellojackets, Bruce Hornsby), Ric Fierabracci (Chick Corea, Men at Work) Dave Carpenter (Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea), who died in 2008, on saxes Steve Tavaglione (George Benson), Tom Scott (Paul McCartney, Quincy Jones) and Brandon Fields (George Benson, Tower Of Power), on piano Mitchel Forman (Gary Burton, Pat Metheny), on guitar Dean Brown (Billy Cobham, David Sanborn), Alex Machacek (Planet X) and Chuck Loeb (Steps Ahead, Metro) and on trumpet Walter Fowler (Frank Zappa). All the players are outstanding and the sound is awesome as well! The playing throughout is of course stunning. The compositions are varied in style - sometimes jazzy, heavy, complex, and funky - but always entertaining.
It actually sounds like they were really enjoying themselves while making such a wonderful album.

Tracklist:

01 – New East «MSM Schmidt – Dean Brown» (06:38)
02 – Mr. Weasel «Tom Scott – Dean Brown» (05:59)
03 – Strangest Feelings «Brandon Fields» (05:24)
04 – Running Home «Alex Machacek» (06:15)
05 – Piano Interlud «Mitchel Forman» (01:35)
06 – 7 Grooves 2 Heaven «Dean Brown» (06:40)
07 – Hey Jimmy «Jimmy Haslip» (06:44)
08 – Final Chapter «Alex Machacekм» (06:43)
09 – Miami Revisited «C. Loeb – E. Marienthal» (05:59)
10 – Mongolian BBQ «C. Loeb – E. Marienthal» (06:14)
11 – Song For An Unknown Friend «Dave Carpenter» (07:13)
12 – D.C. «Dave Carpenter» (01:39)
13 – There Are No Rules «E. Marienthal – B. Fields» (09:32)

Personnel: Michael Guenter Schmidt (Keyboards, synths, and loops); Simon Phillips, Joel Rosenblatt & Wolfgang Haffner (Drums); Jimmy Haslip, Ric Fierabracci & Dave Carpenter (Bass); Tom Scott, Brandon Fields, Eric Marienthal (Sax); Steve Tavaglione (EWI & sax); Kai Thomsen, Scott Kinsey & Mitchel Forman (Keys); Walt Fowler (Trumpet); Mike Mainieri (Vibes); Dean Brown, Chuck Loeb, Alex Machacek & Mike Miller (Guitar)

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Jeff Richman / Jimmy Haslip / Danny Gottlieb: Trio Loco (2001)

Guitarist Jeff Richman, bassist Jimmy Haslip (taking a break from the Yellowjackets to play some fusion!) and drummer, Danny Gottlieb recorded live at the Baked Potato, in Hollywood CA, on Oct. 6 & 7 2000. Entirely instrumental, tasty, well played fusion from these three jazz/fusion veterans.

Tracklist:
01. Three Planets 5:11
02. Abeology 4:25
03. Little Star 4:47
04. Country Living 8:48
05. Daji 1:15
06. Red Planet 4:11
07. Monkfish 3:25
08. Kamaroon 6:10
09. For Kieth 6:15
10. Simplexity 6:10
Personnel:
Jeff Richman - guitar
Jimmy Haslip - bass
Danny Gottlieb - drums
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Yellowjackets: Greenhouse (1991)

The Yellowjackets' first release for GRP, Greenhouse, is a real gas. The disc starts innocently enough with "Freedomland," the kind of smart smooth jazz song that marked The Spin. It's on the following "Greenhouse" that listeners glimpse a change in the air: Strings (!) set the stage for dreamy, exotic jazz that melts in your mind, music that goes well beyond similar experiments on earlier Yellowjackets sessions. From this point on, the band travels back in time: Russell Ferrante's piano, the understated rhythm section, and Bob Mintzer's saxophones (Marc Russo had left, though Mintzer wasn't an "official" member yet) smoke with the fire of cool jazz. There are still some electronics employed, but generally they're arranged in a subordinate role to give the acoustic sounds an added presence. It would be tempting to call Mintzer the catalyst of change -- his saxophone playing is more note-filled and squeakier than Russo's, a style that evokes traditional jazz -- but the new direction in sound is just as evident in the piano playing of Ferrante, the softened attack of William Kennedy (plenty of cymbals, quieter snare hits), and the articulated playing of Jimmy Haslip (best heard on "Indian Summer"). The fresh start allows the Yellowjackets to escape from under the cloud of smooth jazz and expose their "serious" side, all while continuing to place composition and melody over individual musicianship. Calling this the band's most mature work to date belies a natural distrust of smooth jazz, so better to say that Greenhouse is loaded with personality. Mintzer's spooky bass clarinet on "Brown Zone," the wild bop workout unleashed on "Liam/Rain Dance," and the violin jig on "Freda" are among their most memorable musical moments. The Yellowjackets haven't changed the way they approach their music, but the newfound ability to communicate in a more traditional jazz setting casts them in a whole new (and flattering) light.

Tracklist:
1. Freedomland (ferrante)
2. Greenhouse (ferrante, haslip)
3. Seven stars (ferrante, haslip, kennedy)
4. Indian summer (ferrante)
5.Spirits (mintzer)
6. Browne zone (khan)
7. Liam/Rain dance (ferrante, haslip, croes)
8. Invisible people (ferrante, haslip, kennedy)
9. Freda (baker, wynwood)
10. Peace (gable)
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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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