Album review: TERRY BOZZIO – Composer Series

TERRY BOZZIO - Composer Series

earMUSIC [Release date 25.11.16]

Traditionally, drummers have received bad press or no press. They sit at the back keeping time but very rarely come forward to articulate their wider musical visions. Terry Bozzio is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Zappa and Jeff Beck and is no shrinking violet. This 4-CD set plus bluray is a definitive package for anyone with an interest in fusion, and fusion drummers and their technique.

With complementary liner notes – and graphics – from Bozzio himself, highlighting that he has composed and sequenced everything. The two discs Fusion 1 and Fusion 2 are full of dense soundscapes, not easy listening for the uninitiated, and frequently sounding like something from a futuristic sci-fi film or gaming soundtrack.

There is no real respite on CD3 – entitled ‘Classic’ – which culturally reflects Bozzio’s Japanese influences (he now lives in Japan) and musically takes its cue from jazzers who were classically inspired such as Zappa and Chick Corea. CD4 is entitled ambient but there’s no new age mush here.

The bluray disc rounds off the package with a Bozzio drum solo supplemented by a look at his kit: if you thought a double bass drum was flash Bozzio uses four. And don’t even ask about cymbals.

Those in search of a tune look away now. A box set for insomniac drum musos. ***

Review by David Randall

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