Search - MVP :: Centrifugal Funk

Legato records other fusion classic

Jeff Arenson | Colorado Springs, CO United States | 03/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Centrifugal Funk" is the follow up to "Truth in Shredding". This is the other Legato Records fusion fantasy that was released over a decade ago. Tone Center has reissued this recording as well as "Truth..". More of the same formula; Take some virtuoso guitarists, this time Shawn Lane, Frank Gambale, and Brett Garsed; have them backed up by a solid rhythm section; Jimmy Earl on bass and Joey Heredia on drums, and Mike O'Neill on rhythm guitar; add a keyboardist, Freddy Ravel and Saxophonist, Steve Tavaglione to break up guitar redundance and have them perform jazz standards delivered with rock energy. It worked on "Truth.." and it works here. Frank Gambale is amazing as is the late great Shawn Lane (who wasn't too happy with this) and so is Brett Garsed. All of them play solos that are heavy on notes and virtuostic indulgence. The songs are covers by jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller. The songs sound more like Rock/Fusion than jazz on this recording. Frank Gambale is featured the most and appears on every song except "Lane's Blitz" which is a 30 second Shawn Lane solo, and "Hey Tee Bone". "Hey Tee Bone" is a funky piece which features Brett and an unreal solo by Shawn Lane. Shawn's solo was the first thing that I ever heard by him and, although it isn't melodic, if you like fast guitar playing this will freak you out. Shawn and Brett have both grown as musicians/guitarists since this recording and display the ability to phrase, play over chord changes, etc. My guess is that Varney, the producer, told them to play that way and it sounds fine on a recording of this nature. "Tokyo Blue" and "Elegant People" are more mellow and feature Frank and Steve. Both tunes contain well phrased solos that aren't just shred and 'Tokyo Blue' finds Frank playing acoustic. Some great playing on these two and a welcome break from non-stop madness. These 2 songs are closer to Jazz/Fusion than the Rock/Funk/Fusion of the others and are examples of how to build-up a solo instead of just going nuts the whole time. "Actual Proof" features Frank, Freddy and Steve and also sounds closer to Jazz than Rock. "So What" and "Love Struck" feature all 3 guitarists and is a return to the note heavy guitar fest. "Splatch" features Steve Tavaglione on sax and ewi and then Shawn and Frank do their thing. This is a Marcus Miller tune and is the funkiest that this disc gets. Great stuff over a great groove.
The only major problem with this recording is that it is obvious that all 3 of these guys weren't in the same room and the solos are just punched in. It would have been great to hear interplay between these 3 and a very good disc could be unreal. Still, more shred done right. The inclusion of 'Tokyo Blue' and 'Elegant People' provide welcome breaks from the shred-fest. If you like the tone-center releases, any of these 3 guitarists or like guitar-indulgent recordings, then this is for you. If this was 1991, I'd give it 5 stars; However, it isn't and my tastes have changed a bit, so I give it 4. Never-the-less, this is still a very strong fusion outing and another precursor to the tone center 'all-star' band recordings that are being released in abundance now. Thank god someone gives fusion fans what they want."

Slammin! Ahead of it's Time - I'm so glad this has been reis

Jeffrey M. Papineau | San Jose, CA USA | 10/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is very funky, rock laced, fusion jazz.



AMAZING STUFF



First time I heard it, I related to it instantly. No having to listen a few times to get it (Holdsworth, Prince). Just put it on and groove. Very approachable for the ininitiated. Everyone, anyone will like this music. It's just so groovy. Elegant People, track 6 is my favorite.



Earl is a fantastic bassist, and on track 6, I swear it was Marcus playing, so he is very influenced by Marcus (who isn't?). Earl is just outrageous (can you tell I'm a bass player?). I put this CD on when I want to show people what the best fusion funky jazz is all about. It's an education. I will listen to track 6 a few times in the car on the way home from work, and then I can't get it out of my head for hours.



Sax work is lovely, as are the all the musicians. Guitar? This is just jazz to me; the guitars don't stand out as if it was a guitarists album so much. This is a great mesh of players and if you didn't tell me, I wouldn't know it was a Franky album. His albums are so much more of an ego fest than this... and that's not a slam. Frank is the best there is, tho he shares his throne with Alan, Scott, and a few others."