Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jeff Coffin Mu'tet: Into the Air

4

Jeff Coffin Mu'tet: Into the Air

By

Sign in to view read count
It's albums like Into the Air that accentuate the refreshing aggregation of ideologies and styles of Nashville, TN., where disparate genres align into nicely flavored outputs. Indeed, Coffin's sixth album leading the Mu'Tet, is a colorific offering that integrates funk, soul, and ballsy blues with electro-organic jazz phrasings, jazz-fusion and other cohesively interwoven stylizations.

Bassist Felix Pastorius once again demonstrates a genetic extraction of sorts from his father Jaco, and sets the table for a new wave of bass execution. He proudly carries the torch and provides the bonding agent for this band. With legendary drummer Jeff Sipe, the ensemble supports Coffin's soulful lines and melodic hooks that are interspersed throughout the beefy or silky grooves. Other than the respective musicians' enviable technical gifts, Coffin and his cohorts should be commended for the diverse set—often awash with harmonically appealing compositions. He also uses an electronic sax during select movements, where he inserts slithery, note-bending passages, while adding another dimension to the program's makeup.

"Lucky 13" is a standout track via Pastorius' chomping bass parts with Coffins sleek sax and Kofi Burbridge's radiant organ vibe. Marked by a catchy hook, the ensemble fuses a slightly ominous plot with a jamming bridge, abetted by guitarist Lionel Loueke's funked-out wah-wah choruses. In other regions of sound and scope, they fuel simmering in-the-pocket pulses and translucently align a radio-friendly party atmosphere with serious chops and thorny time signatures.

The album's climate is intermittently tempered by Burbridge's whispery flute patterns, Louke's wordless vocals, and moments of sublime innocence when they spawn laidback storylines and quirky detours with STAX-like horns during "Ride (redux)." Here, Bill Fanning's 'space trumpet' voicings, lined with echo and resonating lyricism, segue into a slippery blues romp tinted with elements of house music. The Mu'Tet's prismatic aura and engaging exchanges generate the knockout blow. Moreover, the crystalline audio qualities of the production add a glistening sheen to the musical landscape.

Track Listing

A Half Sleep; U Don't Say; Lucky 13; Backin' Up; 8 Bit Goggles; Slow Glass; Loueke; Low Spark; Ride (Redux); Beautiful Flower.

Personnel

Jeff Coffin: saxophone,; Jeff ‘Apt. Q-258’ Sipe: drums, percussion; Kofi Burbridge: keyboard, flute; Felix Pastorius: electric bass; Bill ‘the Spaceman’ Fanning: trumpet, space trumpet; Lionel Loueke: electric guitar, voice (3, 7).

Album information

Title: Into the Air | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Ear Up Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near Nashville
Jazz Near Nashville
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.