Hindsight is ever 20/20, however, in addition to over the ensuing months the ability trio worked difficult at shaping upward the floppy ends. On the evidence of these alive sessions from Yoshi’s inwards Oakland, the extra polishing was to a greater extent than than worthwhile. It no dubiety helped that Robben Ford in addition to Jimmy Haslip accept been collaborating since the earliest days of Yellowjackets, in addition to that Vinnie Colaiuta is ane of America’s most flexible, gifted drummers. Such exemplary musicianship can’t assist but pay big dividends inwards the long run.
Four tunes from the debut are revisited on Live! (“Going Nowhere,” “The Hong Kong Incident,” “Crazy House” in addition to “Stan Key”). “Crazy House” would silent arrive at goodness from some to a greater extent than enterprise rhythmic foundation — Colaiuta in addition to Haslip both proceed it also lean to back upward Ford’s liquid blues lines — but it, similar the other provide visits, shines to a greater extent than brightly than on the studio release. “Hong Kong” has an eerie Frank Zappa vibe at times, maybe every bit a nod to Colaiuta’s erstwhile boss, but non solely derivative. If Ford’s vocals on “Going Nowhere” in addition to an fantabulous version of Bob Dylan’s “Cold Irons Bound” are somewhat low-cal inwards spirit, silent he sells the production convincingly enough.
The instrumental performances are precisely what familiar listeners would expect. Ford’s guitar move is impeccably tasty in addition to tractable, fifty-fifty on the to a greater extent than outward-looking cuts. Haslip, who produced both recordings for the trio, remains their hugger-mugger weapon: amount of presence when it’s needed, otherwise subtle every bit a warm breeze. Colaiuta ane time once again distinguishes himself every bit a primal figure inwards contemporary drumming, turning on a dime to adjust the many shifts inwards mood in addition to beat. It’s been said fourth dimension in addition to ane time again that Tone Center powerfulness stand upward for the hereafter of fusion, in addition to this unloose is ane to a greater extent than plume inwards the label’s cap. Phenomenal.
Jing Chi is what this co-op grouping is called rather than beingness a detail musician's name. Guitarist Robben Ford in addition to bassist Jimmy Haslip, who were 2 of the master copy members of the Yellowjackets, accept a reunion on this set. Part of a kernel grouping alongside drummer Vinnie Colaiuta that is sometimes augmented past times keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz, the trio/quartet to a greater extent than oft than non performs rock-oriented fusion on this alive date. Although Ford has gained a potent reputation playing blues, the only extended blues is "Blues MD," which has a invitee appearance from erstwhile Yellowjacket altoist Marc Russo. Overall, the musicians play good (with Ford taking 2 vocals), but the private selections are non all that memorable in addition to the music is much to a greater extent than rockish than expected, making this laid upward of primary involvement for fans of the fusion side of Robben Ford.
Okay, I admit. I’m a chip biased. But how tin post away anyone, alongside a forthwith face, tell whatever guitarist is making more, or amend music than Robben Ford?
I won’t listing the stuff he’s worked on inwards the past times 5 years, but if you lot include all of his band in addition to studio material, along alongside his dandy solo albums, it’s an amazing trunk of work.
Basically, he’s what we’d all similar to live on – a actor who gets into diverse musical situations he likes in addition to only plays his pump out. Plus, it also helps to accept his chops.
Jing Chi, for those of you lot non familiar, is a fusion trio, featuring Ford, bassist Jimmy Haslip, in addition to drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. The trio position out a studio album terminal yr that was only wonderful.
Here they add together keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz in addition to on ane cutting saxophonist Marc Russo. The squeamish affair most this setting for Robben is the run a endangerment to stretch out. And, he does. And inwards doing so, he ane time again shows how master copy in addition to imaginative he is. Whether it’s obviously old-fashioned fusion, mixed alongside a footling blues(“That Road”), rock-based fusion that brings Cream to mind(“The Hong Kong Incident”), jazzy-blues(“Blues MD”), or spacey stone alongside a squeamish vocal(“Going Nowhere”), Robben shows why he’s ane of the best, non only today, but inwards the modern history of guitar.
There are 2 vocal cuts mixed inwards alongside the 6 instrumentals. Robben handles the vocals on both. One of them is the aforementioned “Going Nowhere.” The other is the real cool, funky stone comprehend of Bob Dylan’s “Cold Irons Bound.” It’s pretty straight-ahead alongside a monster solo from Ford.
As you’d expect, all of the playing great. Haslip is every bit steady a bassist every bit you’ll detect for this form of stuff. Nothing fancy, but only a monster at giving the songs a huge base of operations to live on built upon. Same goes for Colaiuta. Just a marvelous player. Ruiz also proves to live on a fine addition. In fact, his interplay alongside Ford gives the tape some of its finest moments.
This one’s a must for fans of Robben, or only dandy guitar playing. It almost becomes an embarrassment of riches afterward awhile. He is, inwards my humble opinion, every bit adept every bit in that place is working out in that place today.
Great alive fusion alongside extended jams featuring a dandy ability trio--guitarist extraordinaire Robben Ford, drummer's drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, in addition to Yellowjacket's bassist Jimmy Haslip--assisted ably past times Otmaro Ruiz on keyboards in addition to Marc Russo on sax. This disc contains four tracks from the studio-recorded version of Jing Chi (Going Nowhere, The Hong Kong Incident, Stan Key, in addition to Crazy House), in addition to four novel tracks (That Road, What Goes Around, Cold Irons Bound, in addition to Blues MD). Overall the cd has a footling to a greater extent than bluesy in addition to non quite every bit "hard" a experience to it every bit the studio version. As you'd await alongside such a cast of characters, this is dandy stuff.
Track listing:
1. That Road
2. Going Nowhere
3. The Hong Kong Incident
4. Stan Key
5. What Goes Around
6. Crazy House
7. Cold Irons Bound
8. Blues MD
Personnel:
Robben Ford - Guitar, Vocal
Jimmy Haslip - Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Otmaro Ruiz - Keyboards
Marc Russo - Alto Saxophone (tracks: 8)
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