Jazz Articles

Mike Clark/Paul Jackson/Marc Wagnon: Conjunction

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

As jazz/rock fusions go, Conjunction is something special: it completely refuses to fit into either category. The arrangements are too tight and the improvisation is too sophisticated to label this disc as rock, but the grooves are so backbeat-driven that one could never call it jazz. (Make a special exception for “The Unknown Shuffle," which is quite clearly exactly what it says it is: a blues shuffle.)

Drummer Mike Clark plays a dominant role defining the group sound on Conjunction. ...

Sarah Pillow: Nuove Musiche

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2001

Multitalented vocalist Sarah Pillow veers off the straight and narrow with this immensely absorbing release titled Nuove Musiche, which in Italian, signifies ‘new music’. Here, Ms. Pillow melds Baroque compositions with fusion, progressive rock and blues motifs, all sung in Latin, French, Spanish, English and/or Italian. A striking concept indeed, as the artist aligns her impressive vocal faculties with the eminent fusion/progressive ensemble, “Brand X”.

On this outing, the music of 17th century composers such as Purcell, Monteverdi, Rossi and ...

Brand X: Timeline

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2000

Timeline is a 2 disc set featuring live material culled from performances that represent two contrasting eras of a band who have been assaulting the world of fusion and progressive rock for over twenty years. “Brand X” have gone through their share of personnel changes yet guitarist John Goodsall and bassist Percy Jones have remained through thick and thin. The 1st disc “Live In Chicago 1977” features Goodsall and Jones along with drummer Kenwood Dennard, keyboardist Robin Lumley and percussionist ...

Tunnels: Tunnels with Percy Jones

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2000

During the 70’s and early 80’s a new if not flamboyant attitude surfaced towards the role of the electric bass. A true renaissance spirit ensued when future bass gods such as Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke burst upon the flourishing fusion scene as they prominently expanded the role of the electric bass in fusion and to some extent straight-ahead jazz. Yet, many will attest that there is arguably no finer fretless bassist than the great if somewhat legendary Percy Jones ...

Tunnels: Painted Rock

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2000

Painted Rock is the latest offering from the powerhouse fusion/jazz/prog band, “Tunnels” featuring midi vibraphonist Marc Wagnon, legendary fretless bass master Percy Jones, multi-talented guitarist Van Manakas and the superhuman-like drummer, Frank Katz. Here, the band serve up as to what may be viewed upon as a logical extension of their powerful freshman and recently reissued release, Tunnels with Percy Jones (see Jan’00 AAJ reviews).

The band commence the proceedings like a well-oiled machine on the title track, “Painted Rock” ...

Sarah Pillow: Paper Cuts

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1999

On Paper Cuts vocalist Sarah Pillow effortlessly whirls through twelve standards as she displays remarkable range and good command of the jazz language. With somewhat of an all-star lineup, which includes trumpeter Dave Douglas, vibraphonist Marc Wagnon, guitarist Van Manakas and a thoroughly swinging rhythm section, Ms Pillow hops through octaves, scats and displays near flawless pitch while vocalizing through these pieces with confidence and flair. - Ms Pillow offers the best of both worlds – as though she ‘lived ...