More than a celebration of some of fusion's electrical flow undisputed cream—featuring, inwards improver to White's grouping in addition to McLaughlin's electrical flow Fourth Dimension lineup, sets past times guitarists Jimmy Herring, Alex Machacek in addition to Wayne Krantz, Indian drummer Ranjit Barot, in addition to the starting fourth dimension alive appearance past times fusion supergroup-in-the-making Human Element—it was also a jeopardy to run into only how far Dutta's Abstract Logix has come, since it morphed from web-based fusion storefront to tape label. Starting modestly with only ane release, Project Z's Lincoln Memorial (2005), AL has grown to move the premiere imprint for today's fusion, the "Little Label That Could," against the many challenges facing Indies today. The New Universe Music Festival 2010: Abstract Logix Live! isn't quite similar beingness at that topographic point but, at only over ii hours, it's a compelling condensation of the many highlights (there were many more) that took house over ii days inwards November, 2010—an expansive painting window into what made the festival a slap-up experience in addition to tremendous success.
With tracks culled from each of the 7 groups' performances, spread across ii discs, it captures the essence in addition to diverseness of each set, from Machacek's knotty writing, almost unfathomable voicings in addition to cerebral even in addition to then searing move with the same lineup as The Official Triangle Session (Abstract Logix, 2009)—powerhouse drummer Jeff Sipe in addition to the lesser-known, but as deserving bassist, Neal Fountain—to Herring's to a greater extent than groove-driven but no less contextually challenging quartet, also with Fountain in addition to Sipe, along with some other surprise of the festival, keyboardist Matt Slocum.
Herring's develop was ane of the best of a thoroughly high bar festival, in addition to then it's appropriate that he receives nearly as much fourth dimension as McLaughlin—who gets the most focus at over 26 minutes—demonstrating his goodness ol' man child combination of Jeff Beck-worthy tone, southern lyricism in addition to undeniably monster chops on Sipe's high-velocity "Rainbow," in addition to his ain night ballad, "Gray Day," from Lifeboat (Abstract Logix, 2008). Herring's thundering version of George Harrison's "Within You, Without You" dovetails perfectly with the Indo-centricities of Barot's set, where a remarkable duo with violinist Bala Bhaskar ("Vignesh Kirtanam") sets upward "Origin," the fiery closer to the drummer's AL debut, Bada Boom (2010), hither performed past times members of Human Element, along with invitee guitarist Krantz, who delivers a characteristically quirky, visceral in addition to gritty solo.
Human Element's pose out had been delayed until April, 2011, in addition to then keyboardist Scott Kinsey, über-bassist Matthew Garrison in addition to percussionist/vocalist/puckish mischief-maker Arto Tuncboyaciyan—with Barot subbing, with consummate confidence in addition to commitment, for regular drummer Gary Novak—gave a preview of what was to come, as Kinsey's "Essaouira" in addition to the to a greater extent than incendiary "Sometimes I..." demonstrate the quartet's sonic blend of Joe Zawinul-informed landscapes, the world music concerns in addition to Tribal Tech-like displays of unbridled improvisational power.
Krantz, inwards improver to longtime drummer Cliff Almond, brought some other bass legend to the festival. Anthony Jackson's 2010 AL debut, Interspirit, may non take away keep been represented at the event, but his contribution to Krantz's trio to a greater extent than than made upward for it. Krantz offers a dissimilar variety of cerebralism than Machacek, ane driven to a greater extent than aggressively past times groove, in addition to a knottier disposition towards unexpected fourth dimension changes, as "Why" clearly demonstrates, shifting gears halfway into a high velocity free-for-all that builds to a fever pitch.
White's AL debut, Anomaly (2010), was a cast of thousands (well, 23) affair, but his touring band brings the album's fabric into sharper focus. With Herring—a sometimes fellow member of the band—guesting with the electrical flow quartet lineup, White has a tremendous frontline that also includes New York guitarist Tom Guarna, stepping away from his ain to a greater extent than mainstream recordings, in addition to bassist Richie Goods, who's novel to the AL household unit of measurement but from whom to a greater extent than volition hopefully move heard, kicking the swinging blues at the marrow of "Door #3" into high gear, with Herring in addition to Guarna turning the estrus upward with a serial of nuclear-burn trade-offs that atomic number 82 to White's closing solo, which starts quietly, in addition to ends fifty-fifty to a greater extent than in addition to then ("How virtually that," White quipped, at the show, "a tranquility drum solo."). Keyboardist Vince Evans, a regular White alum, is some other novel human face upward to AL, but his combination of January Hammer-like synth lines and, inwards particular, his Rhodes solo on the up-tempo "Gazelle"—ambiguous voicings combining with a seemingly endless menstruum of thematic ideas, as he weaves through the song's knotty changes—makes him some other thespian worth following.
"Recovery," from To The One (Abstract Logix, 2010), demonstrates how much McLaughlin's Fourth Dimension grouping has evolved since its 2007 North American tour, documented on Official Pirate (Abstract Logix, 2007). With bassist Etienne Mbappe replacing immature firebrand Hadrien Feraud, keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband in addition to drummer Mark Mondesir are able to breathe a picayune more. The music is no less incendiary when it needs to be, but there's a greater feel of fluidity at the bottom end, in addition to a to a greater extent than unshakable anchor, making a curt but sugariness version of "Recovery" the perfect, succinct representation where the grouping is now.
But it's the closer to McLaughlin's develop that's the greatest peak alongside in addition to then many others. "Mother Tongues," a longtime McLaughlin closer, is stretched to over 21 minutes in addition to features a lengthy, mid-song duo betwixt McLaughlin in addition to surprise guest, tablaist Zakir Hussain, that proves the undying force of musical friendships forged as strongly as that of these ii masters. They haven't played together for many years—since the terminal fourth dimension Remember Shakti toured—but the bond they part clearly hasn't weakened ane iota, as McLaughlin in addition to Hussain push, force in addition to move off each other, the guitarist's rhythmic roots inwards Indian classicism on total display, as Hussain moves into a three-way trade-off with Husband in addition to Mondesir that has everyone on their toes, creating the variety of fireworks that drove the audience into a frenzy.
Rumors are there's going to move some other New Universe Music Festival inwards 2012, in addition to with a growing roster that forthwith includes guitarist Chris Taylor, in addition to a 2d installment of Husband's Dirty & Beautiful Volume One (Abstract Logix, 2010) hopefully coming up—leading to hopes that the keyboardist/drummer volition instruct the jeopardy to forepart his ain band—there's every jeopardy that the adjacent festival volition repeat in addition to expand upon the successes of the starting fourth dimension installment. For a first-time event, spearheaded past times the Duttas in addition to their seemingly tireless Director of Operations, John Angello, the 2010 New Universe Music Festival went off with real few hitches—putting many festivals that take away keep been some a lot longer to shame.
n Nov xx in addition to 21, 2010, maverick tape label Abstract Logix hosted a serial of spectacular performances, featuring an array of artists who handily defy genre categorization inwards favor of unbridled expression. The starting fourth dimension New Universe Festival was a die-hard music lover’s dream, defined past times artists who seamlessly mingle compositional ingenuity in addition to improvisational grace in addition to fervor. This coming September, Abstract Logix volition pose out a 2 DVD set, featuring a generous pick of festival performances in addition to bonus fabric (additional performances, interviews, in addition to more), filmed inwards high-definition throughout the event.
Among the featured musicians were pioneering guitarist John McLaughlin in addition to his electrical flow band the fourth Dimension with special guest, the world music legend tabla maestro Zakir Hussain; Widespread Panic guitar hero Jimmy Herring with his electrical band; Return to Forever Drummer Lenny White; the all-star quartet Human Element (keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Matt Garrison, percussionist Arto Tunçboyaciyan; fearless guitarist in addition to improviser Wayne Krantz appearing with the amazing Anthony Jackson on bass; visionary Indian composer in addition to drummer Ranjit Barot; in addition to emerging guitar visionary Alex Machacek.
“I experience honored to participate,” says festival headliner John McLaughlin, patch on tour promoting his Grammy-nominated album To the One. “My life has been dedicated to my musical instrument in addition to music, in addition to I move on to devote myself to music inwards gild to move worthy of such a privilege. You volition hear the variety of complicity that exists betwixt us all – this is a real special element, in addition to frankly essential for making goodness music.”
Jimmy Herring real succinctly pose it, “This is existent music played past times existent people, happening inwards existent time. We’re upward at that topographic point listening in addition to reacting to ane another, in addition to people truly response to the risks nosotros take. This is human music inwards a mechanized age.”
On the human face upward of it, this alive double-album is an proficient genuflection to jazz-rock fusion, with v guitarists in addition to a crop of punchy drummers (including Return to Forever's Lenny White in addition to percussion virtuoso Zakir Hussain) to confirm it. But the playing of the 7 bands is anything but predictable. The members sit down inwards with each other here, in addition to their encompass of jeopardy in addition to the pleasance they accept inwards spontaneous surgery are palpable. John McLaughlin in addition to the fourth Dimension take away keep Hussain sit down inwards for commons drummer Ranjit Barot inwards ii fiercely vivacious pieces, including an infectious, choppy, 20-minute Hussein showcase, Mother Tongues. Barot leads a violin-dominated Indian-inflected sextet featuring the New York guitar maverick Wayne Krantz as a guest; Krantz also appears with an edgy avant-fusion trio. The chord-crunching, metal-inspired guitarist Alex Machacek opens proceedings with a fast-moving grouping extensively featuring electrical bassist Neal Fountain.
It was a veritable smorgasbord of fusion, with many of the top-notch artists inwards the genre meeting for a serial of performances. Jazz-rock fans aid the initiatory number heard legends similar John McLaughlin in addition to Lenny White, established names such as Wayne Krantz, Human Element in addition to Jimmy Herring, as good as up-and-comers similar Alex Machacek in addition to Ranjit Barot. From start to finish, the music was electric, fifty-fifty when it was beingness played acoustically. There was also a palpable feel of community as artists generously participated inwards listening sessions in addition to sat inwards with each other throughout the event. I highly recommend this festival in addition to appear forrard to seeing in addition to hearing its 2d incarnation inwards 2012.
– Lee Mergner, Editor inwards Chief, JazzTimes
The New Universe Music Festival brought together an astonishing roster of legendary in addition to upcoming jazz-fusion musicians—especially guitarists—in an intimate setting charged with excitement. As mightiness move expected, the music was superb, culminating inwards a heartfelt tribute to fusion in addition to the world music pioneer John McLaughlin. I appear forrard to aid the adjacent NUMF, though the starting fourth dimension ane volition move real tough to top.
– Barry Cleveland, Guitar Player
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Track listing:
CD1:
1. Strafe;
2. Very Sad;
3. Vignesh;
4. Origin;
5. Essaouira;
6. Sometimes I...;
7. Rainbow;
8. Gray Day;
9. Within You, Without You.
CD2:
1. Why;
2. Door#3;
3. Gazelle;
4. Recovery;
5. Mother Tongues.
Personnel:
Alex Machacek: guitar (CD1#1-2);
Neal Fountain: bass (CD1#1-2, CD1#7-9);
Jeff Sipe: drums (CD1#1-2, CD1#7-9);
Ranjit Barot: drums (CD1#3-7), vocalisation (CD1#3-4);
Bala Bhaskar: violin (CD1#3-4);
Scott Kinsey: keyboards (CD1#3-7);
Matthew Garrison: bass (CD1#3-7);
Arto Tunçboyacian: percussion in addition to vocalisation (CD1#3-7);
Wayne Krantz: guitar (CD1#3-4, CD2#1);
Jimmy Herring: guitar (CD1#7-9, CD2#-2-3);
Matt Slocum: keyboards (CD1#7-9);
Anthony Jackson: bass (CD2#1);
Cliff Almond: drums (CD2#1);
Lenny White: drums (CD2#2-3);
Tom Guarna: guitar (CD2#2-3);
Richie Goods: bass (CD2#2-3);
Vince Evans: keyboards (CD2#2-3);
John McLaughlin: guitar (CD2#4-5);
Etienne M'Bappe: bass (CD2#4-5);
Gary Husband: keyboards in addition to drums (CD2#4-5);
Mark Mondesir: drums (CD2#4-5);
Zakir Hussain: tabular array ((CD2#5).
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