Although Dave Weckl is an fantabulous drummer, non all of his recordings accept been excellent. In the 1990s, you lot never knew if you lot would uncovering something exciting or mundane on a Weckl album. But this fusion/soul-jazz disc turned out to move a pleasant surprise. Synergy, inward fact, is the drummer's virtually consistently satisfying CD. Excessive producing was a major employment on exactly about of his previous releases, but this fourth dimension he by as well as large avoids overproducing as well as goes for a existent band sound. Joined yesteryear tenor as well as soprano saxman Brandon Fields, keyboardist Jay Oliver, guitarist Buzz Feiten, as well as electrical bassist Tom Kennedy, Weckl has a venture squad to operate with as well as emphasizes improvisation as well as honest-to-God playing non high-tech studio gloss. Weckl's band sounds quite cohesive on a diverse, unpredictable outing that ranges from the funky "Wet Skin" as well as the Latin-influenced championship vocal to the ominous "Cape Fear" as well as the fragile "A Simple Prayer." If you lot could buy exclusively i of Weckl's 1990s albums, Synergy would move the best choice.
Dave Weckl's 5th CD would accept been exactly just about other proficient i inward a string of many salve i thing: the add-on of guitar non bad Buzz Feiten to his commons outstanding musical rhythm department of Tommy Kennedy on bass as well as Jay Oliver on keyboards. Feiten's playing as well as writing talents lifted this free to a degree non quite achieved since, giving the whole laid an electrical border you lot tin both hear as well as feel. This CD was recorded on the heels of an extensive tour, as well as I tin exclusively imagine the on phase excitement as well as inventiveness that led to such an outstanding musical set.
Audio character is outstanding throughout, driven yesteryear Weckl's accomplished studio techniques as well as penchant for perfection. High Life is signature Dave Weckl, with an African-inspired drum groove over a tight musical rhythm department ending inward a ridiculous drum solo. Panda's Dream is i of those Buzz Feiten tunes that makes this CD unique; it features a stone groove as well as guitar Pb that makes this i of my all-time favorite Dave Weckl tunes. Swunk features a form of half-time driving swing famous alongside drummers (and made pop yesteryear Weather Report) for how fun it is to play; checkout the full-blown straight-time swing nether a proficient sax solo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Simple Prayer is a Feiten ballad featuring a dreamy acoustic guitar. Cape Fear is an interesting groove with a haunting guitar melody, but aught prepares you lot for the killer bass solo that ends the tune. After an opening bass solo, the championship cutting (Synergy) makes you lot desire to larn upward as well as dance, as well as is every bit good i of my favorites on the CD. Where's My Paradise is a minute ballad written yesteryear Feiten as well as Oliver featuring exactly about overnice acoustic guitar work. Swamp Thing is exactly about other rocker featuring Buzz Feiten with a non bad horn lead, as well as rapidly became i of my all-time favorite Dave Weckl tunes. If you're keeping count, that's 2 (2!) tracks off of i CD that made my "all-time favorite" list, as well as both are either written or co-written yesteryear Buzz Feiten featuring solos yesteryear the same. The concluding 2 cuts are actually throw-aways for me: Cultural Concurrence is the obligatory Dave Weckl triggered drum solo, as well as Tower '99 is a re-work of Tower Of Inspiration off of his showtime CD (Master Plan). It's a overnice groove, but I recommend checking out the master copy that features a killer horn arrangement.
Drummer Dave Weckl gained such a cultlike next playing with Chick Corea's Elektric as well as Akoustic bands inward the 1980s that he could in all probability free an album of solo wood-block tapping as well as accept it sell plenty copies to brand the assay worthwhile. So it's a pleasant surprise that Synergy is a decidedly grouping assay that thrusts the varied compositional talents as well as versatility of Weckl as well as his bandmates to the forefront instead of exactly showcasing the leader's drum chops. Not that Weckl has been letting those chops sag; his solo percussion odyssey "Cultural Concurrence" as well as his ferocious soloing over the Latin groove of the championship rails are plenty to hand air drummers everywhere a workout. But what makes Synergy to a greater extent than listenable than exactly about of Weckl's other efforts is the inspired grouping interplay that finds him as well as his longtime touring ensemble--saxophonist Brandon Fields, keyboardist Jay Oliver, guitarist Buzz Feiten, as well as bassist Tommy Kennedy--locking inward on grooves that force beyond his normal jazz-fusion terrain. From the West African experience of "High Life" to the Cajun-tinged "Swamp Thing" to the swanky James Brown funk of "Wet Skin," Synergy is an inspired as well as varied outing.
Track listing:
01 "High Life"
02 "Panda's Dream"
03 "Swunk"
04 "A Simple Prayer"
05 "Cape Fear"
06 "Wet Skin"
07 "Synergy"
08 "Where's My Paradise?"
09 "Lucky Seven"
10 "Swamp Thing"
eleven "Cultural Concurrence"
12 "Tower '99"
Personnel:
Dave Weckl - drums, tambourine, percussion
Brandon Fields - soprano, tenor & baritone saxophones, keyboards, synthesizer
Jay Oliver - organ, keyboards, synthesizer
Buzz Feiten - electric, nylon string & steel string guitars
Tom Kennedy - bass
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