Four exceptional musicians with one and the same desire: the ultimate fusion of jazz and rock.
Vernon Reid, Jack Bruce, John Medeski and Cindy Blackman-Santana go wild on their instruments and pay homage to icons like Tony Williams and Co.
Now jazz rock has its supergroup too.
Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid and ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce have known each other for a long time, and they have one thing in common: their love for the music of jazz legend Tony Williams. Jack, who played in the Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Band for years after the break-up of Cream, and Vernon, who has always been a great fan of Williams’ work, ennoble Williams’ work at every conceivable opportunity.
In 2008, Jack Bruce revived the spirit of Williams and paid homage to the works of the drumming legend, who died in 1997, with an exclusive tour of Japan, bringing Santana wife Cindy Blackman-Santana, John Medeski and Vernon Reid on board. Vernon remembers: “It was a great time. It was more about the spirit of the whole thing than just replaying Williams songs.”
During this time, the relationship between all those involved intensified to such an extent that they decided to continue working together after the tour. However, logistically this turns out to be more difficult than initially thought, and so they don’t meet up again until the beginning of 2011 to perform live again over a longer period of time.
The shows in North America sparked a desire for more from all involved, and the fans also made their voices heard and demanded something tangible for the CD player at home. The four musicians couldn’t resist any longer, renamed themselves Spectrum Road to give the whole thing more independence, and went into the studio.
The quartet then takes ten Williams works and transports them into the modern age in a unique way. Reid’s lively guitar playing in combination with Blackman-Santana’s virtuoso rhythm skills, Medeski’s keyboard ecstasies and Jack Bruce’s powerful bass let something completely new emerge from the time-honoured material. The self-titled debut album will be released in June 2012. Vernon Reid bows to his colleagues: “It’s just incredible to be able to play with these people. Each one of them is very special, both musically and as people. (laut.de)
Spectrum Road is a jazz-rock supergroup featuring bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Vernon Reid, drummer Cindy Blackman-Santana, and organist John Medeski that formed as a tribute to the inspiration and music of Tony Williams’ pioneering Lifetime group (of which Bruce was a member). In the process of playing Lifetime’s music as a project, they became a bona fide band. All but two of these cuts are from Lifetime’s catalog. The set begins with the scorcher “Vuelta Abajo,” from 1970’s Turn It Over album. All four members come storming out of the gate on a syncopated, intense series of riffs and stops. Blackman-Santana, a Williams disciple, plays furiously with countless rolls and fills yet never drops her sense of groove.
She pushes hard at Bruce’s bassline while Medeski washes it all with a counter pulse and Reid takes it over into the red zone. This is excess at its level best. The hippest thing is that not only does Bruce keep that insane pace, he revels in it and works with Blackman-Santana to keep the groove funky and weird. She takes the vocal on the spacey, 12-minute “Where,” which builds via her rolls and Medeski’s abstract painterly touches into a true freewheeling jam with Reid and Bruce going head to head. The group interplay on “Vashkar” (written by Carla Bley, and originally appeared on 1969’s Emergency) is a manic showcase for Medeski and Reid, but it’s the rhythm section that keeps moving the track further onto the ledge. Spectrum Road honors Williams’ example by taking real chances with his music.
The way they break down “There Comes a Time” ( from 1971’s Ego) with Bruce’s bluesy vocals holding the ground firm under the band’s improvising moves it from a somewhat staid open modal blues into something more textured, aggressive, and expansive. Reid’s jazz chops on “Coming Back Home” walk a line between swing and Hendrixian blues, as Medeski swells and feeds his every line. Reid’s and Blackman-Santana’s rock strut on “Wild Life” would be nearly processional were it not for Bruce’s and Medeski’s deeply funky undercurrent. Spectrum Road’s self-titled debut delivers in full on the supergroup promise; in addition, they provide the kind of forward-looking tribute that a pioneer like Williams truly deserves. (by Thom Jurek)
In other word: One the finest Jazz-Rock albums from Jack Bruce !
Personnel:
Cindy Blackman (drums, vocals)
Jack Bruce (bass, vocals)
John Medeski (keyboards, mellotron)
Vernon Reid (guitar)
Tracklist:
01. Vuelta Abajo (Williams) 5.25
02. There Comes A Time (Williams) 4.17
03. Coming Back Home (Hammer) 4.36
04. Where (Hall/McLaughlin) 12.36
05. An T-eilan Muileach (Traditional) 4.29
06. Vashkar (Bley) 5.48
07. One Word (McLaughlin) 4.14
08. Blues For Tillmon (Blackman/Bruce/Medeski/Reid) 5.36
09. Allah Be Praised (Young) 4.07
10. Wild Life (Williams) 4.47
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