Vince Tampio: Adult Children

At first glance, it's unclear whether Vince Tampio wants to imply something optimistic or dystopian with the strange cityscape on the cover of Adult Children (and with the title, for that matter). As a reflection of some strange times, such a striking image has plenty of room for interpretations positive and negative. It also could not be more apt for the funky urban-Afro-jungle-dub-jazz party within. This affair is a thick fusion stew with loud electric jazz and rhythm-heavy highlife music of Ghana as equal and complementary flavors.

In the end, things can't really feel too close to dystopia when the music is packed with so much life and color. Tampio and friends keep earthy rhythm at the deep center here with drum-n-bass grooves aimed at the hips and feet. His trumpet has more than a little electric Miles Davis wildness to it, making occasional use of some piercing wails and cavernous echo. Elsewhere he seems just as content to hang back and let the hypnotic triple-percussion line move everything from beneath.

A casual listener might simply think they're hearing some quick not-quite-shred guitar in the mix to add a little more fusion juice. As it happens, there are often up to seven guitar parts in the mix, each doing something small and simple, and all adding up to a fuzzy textured patchwork once they mesh together. The method is much like Adult Children as a whole; the ensemble shines because of its cooperation and no player needs to be brighter than any other. Suitable for any corner of the planet, it's an ever-funky block party that intends to keep grooving until sunrise and beyond.