 Jeff Lorber’s latest
contribution, Jeff Lorber Fusion –
Hacienda, shows that music fusion is still “in,” and in the hands
of one of the founders of music fusion, it is a stellar set of eleven tracks of
musical genius. Jeff knows how to blend, pace, transition, and funk like no one
else, and with a Who’s Who of musicians the release takes flight.
Jeff
Lorber Fusion - Hacienda
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Hacienda: Corinaldo;
Solar Wind; King Kong; The Steppe; Hacienda; Fab Gear; Raptor; Everlast; Playa
Del Falco; Escapade; Dragonfly
Personnel: Jeff
Lorber: Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Synth Bass; Paul Jackson Jr.: Guitar; Jimmy
Haslip: Bass, Additional Keyboards; Vinnie Calaiuta: Drums; Lenny Castro:
Percussion; Eric Marienhal: Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone; David
Mann: Horn Arrangement, Section Saxophones, Bass Flutes; Larry Koonse: Guitar; Jean-Luc
Ponty: Violin; Michael Thompson: Guitar, Guitar Orchestration; Ed Mann:
Marimba; Gary Novak: Drums; Dave Weckl: Drums
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Hacienda was produced by Jeff
Lorber and Jimmy Haslip and was
released on the Heads Up International
label, a division of Concord Music Group
Inc. The release of Hacienda
marks the 25th release in the long, progressive, and outstanding career of Jeff
Lorber that dates back to 1977. To read
other Jeff Lorber Fusion reviews see the Music Scene
section for: Jeff Lorber Fusion- Galaxy and Jeff Lorber Fusion – Now is the Time.
The release kicks off with
the rousing track Corinaldo that sets
the edge for the pace and tone of the release. The track is lead by Jeff’s
blazing keyboard and the saxophone work of Eric Marienthal; this is a left jab
right to your music senses letting you know you are in for a great sound.
Solar Wind,
featuring Larry Koonse on guitar carries the easy listening gene, but with a
mutation of fusion and pace that livens up the sound, and along with the
saxophone and driving baseline the song “rocks”. Borrowing from the great Frank
Zappa, Jeff Lorber covers King Kong
and uses 2 alumni of the band The Mothers of Invention in Jean-Luc Ponty on
violin and Ed Mann on marimba. Frank Zappa would be proud of the musicianship
that is found on this track as the band bends the sound and adda a funky twist
to the track.
The Steppe is
a beautifully rendered poignant track and the keyboard energy catches and holds
your attention throughout while the alto saxophone taunts you to surrender to
the sound. The title track Hacienda is
a playful track and the circular melody is catchy and will have you nodding and
tapping along with the song. The track Fab
Gear is a smooth jazz track, but nothing by Jeff is traditional, thus this
is smooth jazz with some spice.
The track Raptor is a funky track that kicks off
with the flashy fingers of Jimmy Haslip on base and it never lets up on the
funk and fun. Playa Del Falco is
another stunning track and Jeff lets his fingers do the talking by expressing
emotional elements across the sound. The track Escapade jazzes it up with some heavy grooves, while Everlast levels off with a nice ballad.
The release closes with Dragonfly, a
compilation of funk, jazz, sizzle, and some sass from the soprano saxophone.
Jeff Lorber continues to
expand the consciousness of fusion and funk while attracting a bevy of talented
musicians to carry off his unique sound.
Follow Jeff Lorber on Facebook
at www.Facebook.com/JeffLorberMusic.
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Websites where you can
procure Jeff Lorber Fusion - Hacienda are
Amazon, CD Universe, iTunes, Virgin Media, and Proper Music.
©October 2013. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com
All rights reserved.
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