More than a celebration of some of fusion's electrical current undisputed cream—featuring, inward improver to White's grouping in addition to McLaughlin's electrical current Fourth Dimension lineup, sets past times guitarists Jimmy Herring, Alex Machacek in addition to Wayne Krantz, Indian drummer Ranjit Barot, in addition to the root alive appearance past times fusion supergroup-in-the-making Human Element—it was also a withdraw chances to come across simply how far Dutta's Abstract Logix has come, since it morphed from web-based fusion storefront to tape label. Starting modestly with simply 1 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 in that place but, at simply over 2 hours, it's a compelling condensation of the many highlights (there were many more) that took house over 2 days inward November, 2010—an expansive painting window into what made the festival a groovy experience in addition to tremendous success.
With tracks culled from each of the vii groups' performances, spread across 2 discs, it captures the essence in addition to multifariousness of each set, from Machacek's knotty writing, almost unfathomable voicings in addition to cerebral even in addition to thence searing run with the same lineup as The Official Triangle Session (Abstract Logix, 2009)—powerhouse drummer Jeff Sipe in addition to the lesser-known, but every bit 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 ready was 1 of the best of a thoroughly high bar festival, in addition to thence 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 nighttime 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 upwards "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 issue had been delayed until April, 2011, in addition to thence 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, basis music concerns in addition to Tribal Tech-like displays of unbridled improvisational power.
Krantz, inward improver to longtime drummer Cliff Almond, brought some other bass legend to the festival. Anthony Jackson's 2010 AL debut, Interspirit, may non induce got been represented at the event, but his contribution to Krantz's trio to a greater extent than than made upwards for it. Krantz offers a unlike form of cerebralism than Machacek, 1 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 textile into sharper focus. With Herring—a sometimes fellow member of the band—guesting with the electrical current 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 menage unit of measurement but from whom to a greater extent than volition hopefully last heard, kicking the swinging blues at the gist of "Door #3" into high gear, with Herring in addition to Guarna turning the oestrus upwards with a serial of nuclear-burn trade-offs that Pb to White's closing solo, which starts quietly, in addition to ends fifty-fifty to a greater extent than in addition to thence ("How almost that," White quipped, at the show, "a serenity drum solo."). Keyboardist Vince Evans, a regular White alum, is some other novel human face upwards to AL, but his combination of January Hammer-like synth lines and, inward particular, his Rhodes solo on the up-tempo "Gazelle"—ambiguous voicings combining with a seemingly endless menstruation of thematic ideas, as he weaves through the song's knotty changes—makes him some other histrion 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 piddling 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 ready that's the greatest peak with in addition to thence 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 forcefulness of musical friendships forged as strongly as that of these 2 masters. They haven't played together for many years—since the concluding fourth dimension Remember Shakti toured—but the bond they portion clearly hasn't weakened 1 iota, as McLaughlin in addition to Hussain push, line in addition to run off each other, the guitarist's rhythmic roots inward 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 form of fireworks that drove the audience into a frenzy.
Rumors are there's going to last some other New Universe Music Festival inward 2012, in addition to with a growing roster that instantly includes guitarist Chris Taylor, in addition to a 2nd installment of Husband's Dirty & Beautiful Volume One (Abstract Logix, 2010) hopefully coming up—leading to hopes that the keyboardist/drummer volition instruct the withdraw chances to front end his ain band—there's every withdraw chances that the side past times side festival volition repeat in addition to expand upon the successes of the root 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 really few hitches—putting many festivals that induce got been approximately 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 inward favor of unbridled expression. The root 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 issue a 2 DVD set, featuring a generous alternative of festival performances in addition to bonus textile (additional performances, interviews, in addition to more), filmed inward high-definition throughout the event.
Among the featured musicians were pioneering guitarist John McLaughlin in addition to his electrical current band the quaternary Dimension with special guest, basis 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, spell 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 along to devote myself to music inward lodge to last worthy of such a privilege. You volition hear the form of complicity that exists betwixt us all – this is a really special element, in addition to frankly essential for making goodness music.”
Jimmy Herring really succinctly seat it, “This is existent music played past times existent people, happening inward existent time. We’re upwards in that place listening in addition to reacting to 1 another, in addition to people truly reply to the risks nosotros take. This is human music inward a mechanized age.”
On the human face upwards of it, this alive double-album is an practiced genuflection to jazz-rock fusion, with 5 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 vii bands is anything but predictable. The members sit down inward with each other here, in addition to their comprehend of peril in addition to the pleasance they induce got inward spontaneous functioning are palpable. John McLaughlin in addition to the quaternary Dimension induce got Hussain sit down inward for green drummer Ranjit Barot inward 2 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 inward the genre meeting for a serial of performances. Jazz-rock fans handle the initiative effect 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 inward listening sessions in addition to sat inward with each other throughout the event. I highly recommend this festival in addition to seem frontwards to seeing in addition to hearing its 2nd incarnation inward 2012.
– Lee Mergner, Editor inward 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 last expected, the music was superb, culminating inward a heartfelt tribute to fusion in addition to basis music pioneer John McLaughlin. I seem frontwards to handle the side past times side NUMF, though the root 1 volition last really 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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