Record Reviews

GARY HUSBAND ~ DIRTY & BEAUTIFUL VOLUME 2 ABSTRACT LOGIX 033 (Barcode: 700261344836) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the second of two albums by British drummer / keyboardist / composer Gary HusbandFind albums by this artist recorded with a host of friends, all of which are superstars of British and international Jazz, Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion, like guitarists Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist, John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, Robin TrowerFind albums by this artist, Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, Wayne KrantzFind albums by this artist, Neil TaylorFind albums by this artist, Alex MachacekFind albums by this artist, Jimmy HerringFind albums by this artist and Mike SternFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jan HammerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Sean FreemanFind albums by this artist and bassists Jimmy JohnsonFind albums by this artist, Teymur PhellFind albums by this artist, Mark KingFind albums by this artist, Laurence CotileFind albums by this artist and Livingstone BrownFind albums by this artist. The various lineups perform eleven pieces, five of which are original compositions by Husband and one is co-composed by him. The music on this set is less diverse stylistically and explores mainly the various possibilities of the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom, with accents and variations influenced mainly by the presence of the different guitar players on these tracks. Each and every guitarist contributes his very personal stylistic nuances, presenting overall a wonderful kaleidoscope of guitar Fusion pieces. The melodic themes of all these pieces fit very well together, which turns this seemingly unconnected collection of pieces into a coherent album, which is a thrilling listening experience. As on its predecessor, Husband plays drums and keyboards on the various pieces, always with great taste and his usual virtuosity. His drumming approach is another solidifying element of this entire collection, which again manages to sound like a complete pre-planned album as opposed to a random collection of tunes, in spite of such diverse lineups taking part in the proceedings. As usual this is Fusion Heaven, not only because of the incredibly high level of individual performances, but mainly because it is all about music and not individual ego trips which often haunt Fusion to its death. Therefore I can only wholeheartedly recommend this album to all Fusion lovers, especially since really good Fusion albums are so incredibly scarce these days. Hats off, Maestro!

Updated: 09/07/2016Posted: 09/07/2016

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JOHN MCLAUGHLIN / JIMMY HERRING ~ LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO ABSTRACT LOGIX 059 (Barcode: 700261467016) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is a live album by iconic British guitarist / composer / bandleader John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist and his 4th DimensionFind albums by this artist quartet, which includes British keyboardists / drummer Gary HusbandFind albums by this artist, Cameroonian bassist Etienne M`BappeFind albums by this artist and Indian drummer and konokol vocalist Ranjit BarotFind albums by this artist and American guitarist Jimmy HerringFind albums by this artist and his Invisible WhipFind albums by this artist quintet, with violinist Jason CrosbyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Matt SlocumFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin ScottFind albums by this artist and drummer Jeff SipeFind albums by this artist. The resulting Fusion nonet performs eight classic Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist tunes, all composed by McLaughlin. The music is a hyper-powerful explosion of Jazz-Rock Fusion, which pays tribute to the legendary Fusion group founded and led by McLaughlin, which in many respects defined Fusion as we know it, with very few significant developments in the genre that happened in the fifty years that followed since it was at its peak. McLaughlin’s performances are brilliantly ageless, and his virtuosity seems to be completely unmindful of the years that passed by since he appeared on the scene. He has more energy and open-mindedness than guitarists half his age, which of course is hardly surprising to his many followers. The members of his quartet, as well as the members of Herring’s Invisible Whip all play as if there was no tomorrow and the hair-rising soloing continues as an unstoppable hurricane, which should give all electric guitar oriented Fusion lovers an unforgettable listening experience. The music sounds remarkably fresh and lost nothing of its originality and ingenuity over time, and this double-trouble powerful approach proves to be extremely effective musically. Yes, they raise a hell of a racket, but what a sublime racket it is! Overall, this is a brilliant album from start to finish, which continues the sublime recording legacy by the greatest guitarist that we were all blessed to hear in all time. Thank you John for a lifetime of music!

Updated: 06/11/2021Posted: 06/11/2021

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