Record Reviews
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  | FUSION SYNDICATE ~ A SPEEDWAY ON SATURN`S RINGS
PURPLE PYRAMID 4022 (Barcode: 889466402227) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2012 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the second album by the Fusion SyndicateFind albums by this artist, a brainchild of American guitarist / composer / producer Fernando PerdomoFind albums by this artist, who assembled a group of Fusion / Prog superstars to record (mostly) his compositions with various lineups, which change from track to track. The collective lineup includes guitarists Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist and Jan AkkermanFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist and Brian JacksonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jah WobbleFind albums by this artist and Alphonso JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist, among others. The album presents eight tracks recorded in late 2022 and early 2023.
The album also presents four bonus tracks produced and composed by bassist / composer Billy SherwoodFind albums by this artist, which originate from the debut eponymous album by Fusion Syndicate from 2012, which is difficult to find these days. It features such Fusion giants like bassist Jimmy HaslipFind albums by this artist, guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, violinist Jerry GoodmanFind albums by this artist, drummer Billy CobhamFind albums by this artist and others.
Although featuring excellent musicians, the album has nothing new to offer musically and has no coherent concept per se. There is plenty of excitement and excellent soloing by the participants, as expected, but sadly it confirms the notion that Fusion, following a relatively brief period of creativity and Artistic productivity during the Golden Decade (1965-1975) has been mostly dormant, if not dead since.
Overall, this is a well-played typical Fusion album, which adds nothing new to the genre’s illustrious past, but offers a pleasant listening experience to the genre’s hard to die fans.
| | Updated: 08/12/2023Posted: 08/12/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FUSION SYNDICATE ~ BEAUTIFUL HORIZON
PURPLE PYRAMID 4685 (Barcode: 889466468520) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2012 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the third album by the Fusion SyndicateFind albums by this artist, a brainchild of American guitarist / composer / producer Fernando PerdomoFind albums by this artist, who assembled a group of Fusion / Prog superstars to record (mostly) his compositions with various lineups, which change from track to track. The collective lineup includes guitarists John EtheridgeFind albums by this artist and Robby KriegerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, bassists Jah WobbleFind albums by this artist and Alphonso JohnsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist, among others. The album presents seven tracks, all original compositions by Perdomo.
The album also presents three bonus tracks produced and composed by bassist / composer Billy SherwoodFind albums by this artist, which originate from the debut eponymous album by Fusion Syndicate from 2012, which is difficult to find these days. It features such Fusion giants like bassist Percy JonesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jim BeardFind albums by this artist, drummer Asaf SirkisFind albums by this artist and others. These bonus tracks were newly remastered and with the four bonus tracks added to the “A Speedway On Saturn`s RingsFind albums with this title” album, constitute a reissue of the debut album.
Although featuring excellent musicians, the album has nothing new to offer musically and has no coherent concept per se. There is plenty of excitement and excellent soloing by the participants, as expected, but sadly it confirms the notion that Fusion, following a relatively brief period of creativity and Artistic productivity during the Golden Decade (1965-1975) has been mostly dormant, if not dead since.
Overall, this is a well-played typical Fusion album, which adds nothing new to the genre’s illustrious past, but offers a pleasant listening experience to the genre’s hard to die fans.
| | Updated: 11/12/2023Posted: 11/12/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ FUSION FOR MILES: A BITCHIN` BREW
MASCOT 7166 (Barcode: 8712725716624) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005
This is the 3rd project in the series of Fusion tributes, conceived, produced and arranged by Jeff RichmanFind albums by this artist. This time he is paying tribute to the Big Boss himself, Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. Ten compositions by Miles Davis are given a modern fusion treatment, each featuring a different guitarist. The inspiration comes of course from the electric jazz period of Miles, around Bitches BrewFind albums with this title, which of course featured John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist – the same man who was paid a tribute by Richman’s previous project. The rhythm section this time consists of Vinnie CalaiutaFind albums by this artist – drums, Alphonso JohnsonFind albums by this artist – bass and Larry GoldingsFind albums by this artist – organ. Ex- Miles Davis saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist provides the link to the original music and the featured guitarists include Mike SternFind albums by this artist, Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist, Bill ConnorsFind albums by this artist, Pat MartinoFind albums by this artist, Bireli LagreneFind albums by this artist, etc. “Conventional” lovers of Miles Davis might find this treatment a bit bold, but fusion fans will definitely enjoy every minute of this.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | WEATHER REPORT ~ LIVE IN BERLIN 1975
ART OF GROOVE 80020 (Barcode: 885513800206) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2010
This is a live recording by the legendary Fusion ensemble Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, captured during the Berliner Jazztage Festival, at the transition period between their original incarnation and their entry into the more Funk and Groove oriented period, but just before bassist Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist joined the band, which would lock their classic mid-period which lasted between 1976 and 1982. The lineup captured here consists of keyboardist Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, bassist Alphonso JohnsonFind albums by this artist, drummer Chester ThompsonFind albums by this artist and percussionist Alex AcunaFind albums by this artist. That particular lineup in fact never appeared on any album recorded by the band. Therefore this show captured by the German ZDF, presented here on CD and DVD, is of particular interest to Weather Report fans.
The music is right in between the two periods of the band: it features the groovy bass lines that characterize the second period but it also ventures into extensive and pretty Free improvised passages, which are less structured than the music of Weather Report that was about to follow and characterize the first period. As a result this live show is pretty unique and adventurous, as opposed to later live recordings by the band. Both Zawinul and Shorter play some pretty wild solo parts, including Zawinul´s acoustic piano solo, which is almost never present on other live recordings.
In short this is not to be missed by the Weather Report fans, since in addition to the very interesting content the music is relatively well recorded and the balance between the instruments, which most live Weather Report recordings suffer from, if well captured this time. The only disadvantage is the fact that the music last only for just over forty minutes. Definitely some of the best live Weather Report moments are waiting herein to be heard.
| | Updated: 17/06/2016Posted: 17/06/2016 | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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