Well to the Bone is Scott Henderson's 3rd outing every bit a leader apart from his group, Tribal Tech, the band he co-founded amongst electrical bassist Gary Willis inwards the mid-'80s. As 1 of the finest fusion guitarists of his generation, Scott Henderson returns to his blues roots amongst a plan of 10 songs that characteristic multi-layered tracks of guitar in addition to a few that pay tribute to the blues-rock of the '60s in addition to the '70s. Henderson's six-string virtuosity is accompanied yesteryear Kirk Covington on drums in addition to John Humphrey on bass. Special invitee vocalizer Wade Durham pours on the bluesy gusto sauce on "Lady P," adds a few of Jimi Hendrix's phrasing techniques on "Devil Boy," in addition to creates a novel funky blues direction on "Dat's da Way It Go." Vocalist Thelma Houston puts her diva postage stamp on "Lola Fay," a sludgy blues shuffle, in addition to on the championship track. These songs grade her provide appointment amongst Henderson, who featured her on his 1997 Tore Down House. Overall Scott Henderson's playing is awesome on all tracks in addition to his experimentation amongst tones from several guitars, amps, in addition to mic-ing alone adds to a greater extent than musical adventures for his listeners to enjoy. He particularly flaunts his blues/rock virtuosity on the championship rail in addition to on the powerfulness ballad "That Hurts." This vocal rocks you lot correct to your tone center. Well to the Bone is Henderson's best blues/rock outing since his 1994 release, titled Dog Party.
Scott Henderson is zip if non unpredictable. In Tribal Tech in addition to Vital Tech Tones he has distinguished himself every bit an endlessly creative performer amongst impeccable musicianship. Well to the Bone also bears a heavy dose of creativity, to hold upwards sure, withal many of the selections come upwards off every bit oddly disconcerting. Despite its label, the disc has been filed away hither at AAJ nether Fusion instead of Blues because fifty-fifty adamant blues non-purists mightiness milk shiver their heads inwards confusion.
“Lady P” typifies the experimental side of Henderson’s mutant blues, its constant rhythmic shifts making it nearly impossible to pivot downward the meter from 1 bar to the next. Wade Durham’s vocals cry upwards Corey Glover of Living Colour every bit much every bit anyone else, in addition to the vocal reverb on “Devil Boy” seems a misguided endeavour to function yesteryear him off every bit Jimi Hendrix. Durham sounds similar he takes himself likewise seriously. Thelma Houston fares much improve on the straightforward championship blues in addition to “Lola Fay.”
Not everything is hot in addition to heavy. “Ashes” is pretty inwards an off-kilter way, in addition to “Rituals” ends the album on a pleasant note. Of course, at that topographic point is a adept bargain of sense of humor involved every bit well, never to a greater extent than in addition to therefore than on the fun-paced “Hillbilly inwards the Band,” where the audio of a barking Canis familiaris keeps interrupting Henderson’s solo. Kicked off yesteryear a chant sample, “Sultan’s Boogie” is merely close what you’d expect, a difficult groove set over a Middle Eastern mode.
The big work hither mightiness hold upwards the sameness of tempo in addition to Henderson’s guitar timbre, which makes much of the disc audio similar it’s all cutting from the same cloth. It’s the same sort of work that John Scofield used to require hold earlier he expanded his horizons. Odd for Henderson to appear stuck inwards a oestrus since he doesn’t evince that work within his other bands, but it sure as shooting holds him dorsum here. Not a bad album yesteryear whatever means, but non every bit rich inwards diversity every bit we’ve grown to await from him.
Scott Henderson is 1 of those guitar players that makes you lot desire to skip practise because, what's the point? You'll never hold upwards that damn adept on the guitar. His latest CD "Well to the Bone," is the evolutionary follow upwards to 1997's "Tore Down House." While "Tore Down House" was a union of Blues in addition to Fusion, "Well to the Bone" is Fusion-Blues. Imagine Stevie Ray Vaughn jamming amongst Weather Report.
Blues purists expression elsewhere. This recording is flight at an height of 30,000 feet correct over their heads. It's Incendiary! Earthy blues concepts. Rubbery whammy bar phrasing. Playing inside, outside, over a cerebral hot bed of progressions that require hold you lot on a journey. Twisted, soulful, sometimes dreamy songs total of humor, longing, in addition to fifty-fifty incest. Maximum forcefulness liquid Strat tones caress every bit good every bit scream throughout.
One vocal inwards item "Ashes," a somber ballad that erupts into a psychotropic gospel dirge at a wake, blends Hendrix/Mayfield trend rhythms amongst the form of soloing that could alone come upwards from a supreme being.
The divine in addition to utterly soulful Thelma Houston returns along amongst novel comer Wade Durham to to a greater extent than than deliver the vocal goods. Kirk Covington on drums, John Humphrey on bass, in addition to Scott Kinsey on percussion, swing amongst someone in addition to precision without always sounding metronomic. For those amongst an opened upwards hear who similar a lot of require chances in addition to unpredictability inwards their blues, this CD is a must own.
Track listing
"Lady P" – 7:14
"Hillbilly inwards the Band" – 5:06
"Devil Boy" – 6:41
"Lola Fay" – 6:24
"Well to the Bone" – 4:50
"Ashes" – 6:53
"Sultan's Boogie" – 6:30
"Dat's Da Way It Go" – 6:54
"That Hurts" – 6:16
"Rituals" – 8:01
Personnel
Scott Henderson - Guitars
Kirk Covington - Drums in addition to vocals
John Humphrey - Bass
Thelma Houston - Vocals on "Lola Fay", "Well To The Bone", "Dat's Da Way It Go"
Wade Durham - Vocals on "Lady P", "Devil Boy", "Dat's Da Way It Go"
Scott Kinsey - Electronic Percussion
EmoticonEmoticon