Search - Steve Khan :: Public Access

Near perfect CD...

20to20K | Maryland | 04/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this CD when I first started getting into jazz heavy in the late 80's and early 90's and it still stays in heavy rotation on my CD player today. That's a significant feat considering my taste in jazz has matured signficantly since those early years but this recording has kept up with my more diverse palate.



It has all the elements I look for in a "desert island disk". Outstanding interplay between refined musicians, stunning sound quality, and great song writing. Plus the tracks flow seemlessly into each other as if making an empirical statement or telling a story.



The genre is clearly jazz fusion, but elements of pure straight-ahead and latin jazz permeate throughout. I typically do not enjoy recordings with Dave Weckl on drums since I tend to find his style too mechanical and rehearsed, but that is not the case here. This is as loose and improvised as I've EVER heard him play.



I know he's a favorite (actually a GOD) with the drum heads...and I do not dispute his technical prowess but a drummer has to do more than amaze me with a blistering solo on a 20 piece kit to impress me. Elvin Jones could do more with a standard 5 piece kit than this guy can do with any of his mega setups.



Speaking of Elvin...there is a Elvin tribute song on this CD which happens to be one of Weckls finer moments. Anthony Jacksons sublime bass lines are the key in holding all these tracks together. AJ's not flashy

like Marcus, Stanley, or the Victors but his subtle funk is just as effective in this setting. Kahn playing is good as well. I've actually heard him play slightly better on some of his other recordings (like Eyewitness) but those albums are no where near as good as this one.



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."