Tag Archives: fusion

Album review: JIMMY McINTOSH – Jimmy McIntosh And…

JIMMY McINTOSH – Jimmy McIntosh And...

Arizona Club Music [Release date 23.09.14] ‘Jimmy McIntosh And…’ is a thoughtful and well played album that combines blues, fusion, funk, rock and even moments of free form playing, on a dozen tracks with variety, a coherently flow and Jimmy’s … Continue reading

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EP review: CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio (Part1)

CONSIDER the SOURCE – World War Trio EP (Part1)

Self Release [Release date 09.02.15] The thing about both prog rock and avant garde music in general is that sometimes it’s best not to take it too seriously. Look no further than Focus for an example of a band capable … Continue reading

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Album review: ERIC JOHNSON MIKE STERN – Eclectic

Eric Johnson Mike Stern - Eclectic

Eric Johnson Mike Stern – Eclectic  Heads Up [Released 10.11.14] Not so much ‘Eclectic’ as simply exhilarating, the pairing of blues-rock guitarist Eric Johnson and jazz fusion guitarist Mike Stern may not have generated a lot of new material (Stern for … Continue reading

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Album review: SWUNG – Vol.1 & 2 (feat. members of FOCUS)

Swung - Vol.1 & 2

In And Out Of Focus Records [Release date 03.11.14] ‘Swung’ was evidently conceived and recorded during downtime from the “day job” – for Bobby Jacobs and Pierre van der Linden this means the current incarnation of Focus. Although that band … Continue reading

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Album review: GONG – I See You

Gong - I See You

        Madfish [Release date 10.11.14] Daevid Allan’s Gong unexpectedly return with a musically complex album, full of biting lyrics and dense but enjoyable music that straddles the jazz and psychedelic, space-rock divide. ‘I See You’ has internationalist … Continue reading

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Album review: DIXIE DREGS – Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heroes, Industry Standard (reissue)

DIXIE DREGS - Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heroes, Industry Standard (reissue)

BGO Records [Release date 06.10.14] www.bgo-records.com OK.  I own up.  I thought Dixie Dregs might have been another Poco or Flying Burrito Brothers.  Yes, I knew that this was Steve Morse’s first major calling card, but even though liking his … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICHIE KOTZEN – 02 Academy, Islington, London, 16 September 2014

RICHIE KOTZEN – 02 Academy Islington, London, 16 September 2014

On Sunday 21 September at 19:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Pete Feenstra chats to Richie Kotzen as part of an hour-long special.  More information Richie Kotzen’s current European tour is to promote ‘The Essential Richie Kotzen’, a … Continue reading

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Album review: MARTY WALSH – The Total Plan

Red/Sony [Released 16.07.14] Marty Walsh’s ‘The Total Plan’ does indeed sound like the complete package. While guitarist Walsh (Berklee School of Music, Supertramp, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Money etc) anchors the album with deep solos and imaginative melodic arrangements, each guest contributes … Continue reading

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Album review: CLEARLIGHT – Impressionist Symphony

CLEARLIGHT - Impressionist Symphony

Gonzo Media Group [Release date 23.05.14] Clearlight’s ‘Impressionist Symphony’ celebrates the 40th anniversary of the post-‘Tubular Bells’ album ‘Clearlight Symphony’, cut on the fledgling Virgin label all those years ago. It once again brings together three former Gong members Didier … Continue reading

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Album review: HOYT BINDER – Prayrie Go Round

HOYT BINDER – Prayrie Go Round

Self release [06.11.13] From the opening sustained and hypnotic note of ‘This Is Why’ to the extended violin work out on the closing title track,  ‘Prayrie Go Round’ is an adventurous musical journey that meanders its way through multi genres … Continue reading

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Album review: CARL VERHEYEN – Mustang Run

Carl Verheyen - Mustang Run

Cranktone Entertainment [Release date 17.03.14] Carl Verheyen is perhaps most familiar as the latter-day-Supertramp guitarist.  He’s also had a parallel session and instructional career and ‘Mustang Run’ is an excellent introduction to this quality musician.  He’s also enlisted the help … Continue reading

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Album review: BRIAN MAILLARD – Reincarnation

Brian Maillard - Reincarnation

www.brianmaillard.com [Release date: 01.02.14] Brian Mailliard is an accomplished guitarist who came to wider attention with the band Solid Vision and perhaps more widely with the ill-fated if rather good Dominici albums (2005-7) fronted by original Dream Theater vocalist Charlie … Continue reading

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Album review: ERIC JOHNSON – Europe Live

Eric Johnson - Europe Live

Provogue [Release date 23.06.14] It’s 28 years since Eric Johnson’s head turning ‘Tones’ album and his signature tone remains a primary concern on the excellent ‘Europe Live’. It’s an album that showcases his exciting flowing style and pushes fusion tinged … Continue reading

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Gig review: JEFF BECK – Birmingham Symphony Hall, 20 May 2014

Jeff Beck - Birmingham Symphony Hall, 20 May 2014

In my research recently for an interview with Steve Lukather I came across a 1986 video of him performing at a Japanese festival with Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck.  Luke is arguably the least recognisable now, the poodle perm long … Continue reading

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Album review : GADI CAPLAN – Look Back Step Forward

GADI CAPLAN – Look Back Step Forward

Musea Paralèlle [Release date 09.07.13] Israeli born, Brooklyn domiciled and trained at the Berklee College of Music, Gadi Caplan is an electric/acoustic guitarist and composer who refuses to be restricted by one style of music. As a result, ‘Look back … Continue reading

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Album review : NEAL SCHON – So U

Neal Schon -So U

Frontiers [release date 19.05.14] When the record label description uses the words “unique” and “jazz and blues-inspired” in the promotional material the alarm bells started ringing in my head. Blues I can live with but Jazz… Neal Schön (what’s with … Continue reading

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Gig review: NOEL McCALLA/JIM MULLEN – Half Moon, Putney, 19 January 2014

When a vocalist begins his set by launching into a cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine”, you could be forgiven for slight trepidation, or even thinking you’ve wandered into the wrong gig altogether. After all, covers gigs, such as … Continue reading

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Album review: SOT – Kind of Saltz

SOT - Kind Of Saltz

Soltanic Sounds [Available now] ‘Kind of Saltz’ appears to have been released some time ago but has just popped again in my pile of CD’s be reviewed.  It’s a wide ranging and engaging album, best described as 70’s jazz-rock fusion, … Continue reading

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Album review: PHWG – The Observer

PHWG – The Observer

Pontus H.W. Gunve [Release date 07.05.13] PHWG is an innovative band led by New York based guitarist, synth programmer, composer and producer Pontus H.W. Gunve, with an original take on prog rock, world, ambient and fusion music. He frames it all … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAPERCAILLIE – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 16 November 2013

 CAPERCAILLIE - Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 16 November 2013

Capercaillie put down a marker for Celtic fusion back in the late 1980s.  They straddled the divide between the Celtic rockmeister Alan Stivell and the more commercial early incarnation of The Corrs.  Most recently, live gigs have been rare and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SHADOW OF ACOLYTE, TERMINAL DEGREE, MALLET

Shadow Of Acolyte

www.facebook.com/shadowofacolyte [Release date 30.09.13] It’s always interesting to receive stuff by a young English hard rock band that you’ve never heard of.  Formed in 2008, Shadow Of Acolyte hail from the East Midlands and is essentially Aaron Gidney (guitar and … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO – Jazz Cafe, London, 29 September 2013

Alex Skolnick Trio

This always promised to be a curious night, but if some of the audience were taking a leap of faith they were amply rewarded by a band who clearly relished a challenge as much a sharing their enjoyment with their … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE CICHON – Meltdown

Stephen Andrew Cichon [Release date 03.06.13] Florida’s prog/fusion guitarist Steve Cichon’s last instrumental album ‘Cranial Feedback’ was notable for its inventive guitar playing, shifting tone colours and vacillating twists and turns. ‘Meltdown’ extends his penchant for relentless guitar pyrotechnics with … Continue reading

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Interview with bass icon NORMAN WATT-ROY (June 2013)

After a 46 year career that has made him a bass icon, Norman Watt-Roy finally has finally recorded his first ever solo album ‘Faith & Grace’ – cockney rhyming slang for bass. With a career that started with playing American … Continue reading

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Album review: NORMAN WATT-ROY – Faith & Grace

Cadiz [Release date 17.06.13] The mission statement for this album comes in the middle of the autobiographical ‘Me My Bass And I’: ‘When I heard Jaco (Pastorius) and Weather Report that was basically it. I realised where I came from, … Continue reading

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