Shmeisani Jazz Massive: Shmeisani Jazz Massive

Jazz is alive and living in Jordan. Shmeisani Jazz Massive is an Amman-based band, but do not expect much in the way of local musical influences (not that that would be a bad thing). These guys would sound at home in any American jazz club. 

The core band consists of Motassem Azar ("Azar") on drums, John McKay ("John") on bass, Omar Farouki ("Omar") on keyboards, and Archibald Gallet ("Archie") on guitar. What you get on Shmeisani Jazz Massive, their self-titled debut album, sounds pretty close to a live performance, since all the tracks are first takes, and apparently the eight tracks have been selected from a larger set of recordings. 

The opening track, "Fly," blends distorted guitar with some McCoy Tyner-like piano work from Farouki and gets the album off to a good groove. This feel is continued with the second track, "Jamal," where the band is augmented by Tamon Oshimo ("Tamon") on trumpet channeling his inner Miles Davis over a funky bass line.  

"True Fire" is an up-tempo piece, with an atmospheric opening section featuring some spacey electric piano. Gallet hitches his guitar up to a synth on this track to produce the most inventive and interesting solo of the album. 

On "Pillow Talk" we get a slow groove and more fine trumpet playing from Oshimo, and this is followed by "As War Starts," a sad reminder of what the people of the region are suffering at the moment. The air raid sirens at the end of the track were recorded outside their recording studio. The track is also a musical highlight of the album by the way. 

"Primal Steps" goes off script with some light-hearted experimentation, but we return to the blend of groovy beat and spacey chords with "Snorting Lava." Finally, the guys decide they really wanted to be a rock band with "The Snails March." This not a track you are going to want to include in your jazz playlist, but gives the album a change of pace and a big finish. 

Whilst you can hear different jazz influences on this album, the band have their own unique sound, and the musicianship is excellent throughout. Fans will look forward to hearing what comes next.