The super trio reunites again for a set brimming with pummeling rhythms and joyous musings. Here, Frank Gambale employs both electric and acoustic guitars amid his now infamous chord sweeping techniques and mesmerizing single note leads. As this mighty rhythm section offers a rather ominous delivery, whether Gambale is exploring lyrically rich themes or driving the proceedings into the ozone.
The band provides an entertaining mix, consisting of jazzy hooks, climactically oriented crescendos and difficult to perform time signatures. Yet, this effort represents more than just your typical chops fest, as the musicians really delve into the various compositional frameworks. Although Stewart Hamm’s melodically tinged, but superfluous bass passages on the piece titled “November” fails to sustain long-term interest.
This is fusion at its very finest and most prolific, as the musicians display insightful camaraderie to complement their ritualistic mode of technical excellence. The trio projects a sophisticated approach that speaks volumes - especially when we consider the droves of copycat bands, masquerading as fusion pioneers. Recommended.
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.