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Weekly Reviews For January 17, 2006

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Fusion For Miles – A Bitchin' Brew

There have been more than a few jazz musicians who've paid tribute to Miles Davis, but there haven't been many guitarists who've tried it! Yup, you read that right – this is a guitar tribute to a trumpeter.

Jeff Richman has got some history in this field having already released tributes to John Coltrane and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but this is an even stranger step. However, he's dragged along an allstar cast to help him and his band - keyboardist Larry Goldings, bassist Alphonso Johnson, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.

And it's not jazzsters who've signed up, although two of the best tracks come courtesy of Pat Martino and Bill Connors, with “Serpents Tooth” and “Eighty One” respectively. The rock oriented Warren Haynes and Steve Kimmock chip in some quality pieces in “It's About That Time” and “Back Seat Betty”, although the efforts of Jimmy Herring and Mike Stern work less well. The best of all is “Jean Pierre” with Eric Johnson which is a tremendously melancholic reinterpretation.

The only track that really misses is “Nefertiti”, which was a real surprise as I would have thought that Bill Frisell of all people could pull it off. I was wrong.

As a tribute it kind of misses, but take it as a guitar fusion reinterpretation, and you'll find a lot to love.

Alex McEwan - Beautiful Lies


Glaswegian ex teacher and singer/songwriter Alex McEwan took a big chance when he abandoned his career, picked up his guitar and headed for London to try and make it big in the music world. For a while it looked as though it might not pay off, but after a stint playing the clubs and bars of LA and gaining support from the likes of the Average White Band's Hamish Stuart, he's finally put together his debut album.

And although others will bandy the names of David Gray and Damien Rice around, ignore them, for it's much, much better than that. With an amazing ear for melodies and a lyric that catches your attention, it's akin to the intelligent pop rock of Crowded House and Del Amitri. Something I had scribbled down before noticing the cameo appearances from a couple of former Amitris! Spooky.

It's not often you encounter a debut album without a couple of clunker on it, but this is one such album. There's nothing big or clever here, just accomplished roots rock with a hint of Americana, hopefully enough to get the glossies on his side. Delights abound with particular favourites being “Make A Wave” and the title track, “Beautiful Lies”.

A remarkable album.

Sky Of Avalon - Prologue To The Symphonic Legends

This was an odd one 10 years ago when it first came out, and time has not withered it's strangeness or charm. I don't whether anyone was listening at the time, but it was certainly a precursor to the orchestrated, operatic metal so beloved of European metal bands such as Nightwish.
This is a concept album of philosophical concept where Uli Jon Roth (for tis he) tries to create a new style of music to bring his ideas to fruition. The hard hearted would point to a few tracks where it all goes a bit Andrew Lloyd Webber (especially on the Puccini written "Bridge To Heaven"), but when the mix of music, ideas and vocals (from Tommy Heart, Michael Flexig and female singer Leonora Cold) comes together, it sounds remarkably good.
There isn't much of Roths trademark guitar on this short (31 minute) album, as he acts more as a musical director for the project, but if you have an interest in the spiritual, symphonic and neo-classical, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.

Ritual - Live

Ritual have been on the go no for 10 years, releasing some well received albums over the years including "Superb Birth" in 1999 and "Think Like A Mountain" in 2003. Of course it helps that Ritual singer Patrik Lundström also plies his trade in the reformed Kaipa alongside Flower King Ronnie Stolt. We won't talk about his time in Blond who entered the Eurovision Song Contest a few years back.

So, profile rising, it must be time for the obligatory Inside Out double live CD, and as you may have guessed from the title "Live", this be that.

The band tag themselves as Swedish progressive folk but don't be scared. Beyond an abundance of unpronouncable folk instruments, their music is fixed firmly in the world of prog, with the arrangements being the most unconventional thing on display. They tend not to wander into the epic area with most of the songs clocking in around the 5 minute mark with only a couple crossing 10 minutes, the overlong "Solitary Man" and the underlong and thoroughly splendid "Seasong For The Moomin Pappa". And yes, you read that right - I didn't make it up.

With nods to Jethro Tull in the music and nods to John Sloman era Uriah Heep in the vocals, this is largely a delight. Of the shorter songs its "Typhoons Decide" and "Moomin Took My Head" that are the winners. Fans will adore this, and if you've never heard them before, this is an excellent way into the band.