Customer Reviews

Extraction

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not really sure if Greg Howe ever left, but for me he hasn't done anything worth listening to for about 10 years.(Funny how that happens when instrumental guitarists get the idea of adding lyrics) Howe is another one of the Shrapnel records/Mike Varney discovered "Classical Fusion" guitarists to now be on Varney's Tone Center Fusion label. I don't know if Varney is trying to help out old friends but with recordings like this and "CAB" I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. By hooking up Greg Howe with bassist extraordinaire Victor Wooten and the unreal Dennis Chambers on Drums, Varney gave me a reason to give Howe a try. This disc does for Greg Howe what CAB did for Tony Macalpine. That is, it has allowed old fans to hear what these guys can do now that they have developed into musicians that can interact with others.( and if they always could they waited decades to show it)
This disc shows that Howe was the only member of the Shrapnel Family that knew how to combine "Shred" with "Groove". Yes, there are Jazz musicians that can do that even better than Howe; However. this is the best disc by Howe since his Solo debut on Shrapnel well over a decade ago. Unlike some other Tone Center releases, Howe lets Wooten and Chambers lend a hand into the overall sound. These two weren't put into the background, instead each one is given opportunities to do their thing. Howe, of course, is all over this record but it doesn't sound like a solo record at all but a genuine collaboration. I don't know why Howe doesn't list keyboardist Dave Cook on the cover, because he contributes a lot to this recording.
The music is mostly Metal/Fusion/Funk and Howe can compose interesting music. If you like Howe's music then you'll love this. There is a solo piece entitled "A Delicacy" that sounds like a two-handed fantasy tap piece which would have been perfect on a Howe disc from 15 years ago. The band's version of "Proto Cosmos" is also pretty weak but you can count on one hand the amount of guitarists that can hold their own with Holdsworth. At least he tried. The rest of the songs let the whole band contribute and/or are Howe doing what he does best. My personal Favorite is "Contigo" because all of the members contribute and I've never heard Howe add latin influences to his playing. Nice to hear Howe trying something new and this one works. I also recommend this disc to people that like the other tone center releases. I found it to be the best thing that Howe has done in over a decade, and I hope that he continues to work with other outstanding musicians. If the does then I look forward to his next release.

I am not a big fan of Greg Howe but I have to admit that this album is a very good one. Greg can really play modern jazz licks and his guitar sound reminds me of Scott Henderson. You can also hear the influence of Wayne Krantz in the third track.
The compositions are generally stronger than what you can usually expect from this kind of guitar fusion music.
There are many great grooves and Victor Wooten knows how to make them funky. Dennis Chambers is simply amazing on this album.
My favourite tunes are "Extraction" and "Crack it way open".
I highly recommend this album even for more Jazz oriented music fans like me.

You know what stinks about this disc?

Greg finally get's this stellar, top of the food chain rhythm section to back him up, and they aren't even playing in the same room together.

These guys all recorded their instruments in separate studios and there's no earthiness, musical interaction, or vibe.

Don't get me wrong, the playing is great, stellar, but this recording is not that much different than his past fusion workouts. The compositions are better and more interesting, but it's still in the same ball park as his earlier fusion releases.

It's well played hyperdrive fusion with some cool acoustic stuff thrown in. If he was going to have everybody phone everything in, he should have spent less money and got the guys he normally uses. It would have been nice to hear Wooten, Chambers, and Howe, play and display some give and take. Inspire each other in person.

Oh when oh when is Greg Howe gonna stop being so ... and get out and just play with a real live breathing band? How about a recorded tour?!

The only thing really amazing about this disc is that it sounds extremely good with everybody playing to scratch tracks. But I guess that's how Greg works. Same as the Kotzen/Howe projects. They were never in the same room together either.

Gimme some live stuff Greg!

Ok, my eyes bulged out with anticipation when I saw that these three pinnacle musicians were doing a project together. Unfortunately - it's not three, it's four - who hired the keyboardist, guys? If ever there was a fifth wheel, this is the spot. He adds absolutely nothing to the mix, and in fact detracts from the other three, taking up some of their valuable real estate in the mix.

Greg is Greg, he's blistering at times, funky at times. I have all his stuff, and I had hoped that being in the same room with the planetwide best rhythm section would really get him to push into new territory, but that doesn't seem to the case, because, as another reviewer pointed out - they never were in the same room! How unfortunate that these guys can't use some of their wads of cash to charter a plane and meet up for a month and see what comes out of the session rather than just exchanging mix-downs.

Dennis is great, but I think he has more fun with Niacin than here for whatever reason. He never really stretches out.

Victor has a few moments in the spotlight, but sometimes he's lost in the shuffle, which is unfortunate.

They don't really stretch out until Contigo, which rambles along nicely until about halfway through, when it melts down temporarily before coming back to its mellow groove.

Overall, it's solid, hence the four stars, but I didn't really get blown away like I expected to.

I'm sure most people know that Greg Howe was part of the Sharpnel record family. His solo Cds were flashy solo's and pretty hard rocking rythems. With this Cd though he completly blew me away. He gathered up the best line up I've heard in a long time. Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooten. This Cd is just stunning. Very complex Jazz Fusion that is just mind blowing. The Alan Holdworth cover of Pronto Cosmos is also amazing. Greg Howe really shows off how talented he is on this record (not saying he wasn't talented). Greg is just showing us he can play other types of music like Jazz Fusion. I'd recommend to pick this one up if you are really into Jazz Fusion. I'd also recommend to pick up his records he did with Richie Kotzen, those are also very complex but more of a Jazz Rock Fusion style. This Cd is just straight up Jazz Fusion with many twists. This Cd is on the top of my list along with Tribal Tech and Cab. Deffinetly a must for Fusion fans.

Wow! JESUS WHAT A DIMENSIONAL GUITAR THIS IS ! The Crazy axman Greg did it again.This time, rhythm section is formidable like a hurricane.They blow my mind.This trio is like a DREAM TEAM for me.If you want some spicy and cutting edge fusion album, this must be the one you are searching for.These guys got together to attack you , allure you,and extract your musical tooth!!
This album will surely appeal to all the fans of HARDCORE FUSION!!

Another masterpiece of fusion guitar improvisation. Nothing more to add. Greg here is finally joined by a couple of monster talents to play the rhythmn section roles, Dennis Chambers (drums), Victor Wooten (bass). There's not a lot more to add. If you know Greg Howe you have to own it. It's guitar fusion at its best! If you don't know Greg style I can say that it is truly breath taking. His playing is almost liquid .. his lines are so smooth, fast, modern and precise that are astonishing! His fusion is quite contemporary, there are not commercial hooks here, no weaknesses. Just pure music, pure expression. It is a trip in music a kind of mixture between jazz and rock. It has the harmonical/melodical/rhytmical sophistication of Jazz, a lot of funk here and there, and the aggressiveness of rock music. ... gold! Greg is a magnificient player and music writer sure among the two, three best guitarists alive.
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Who is this guy?,This was my question when I listened this super cd in my first time.I bought the cd because DENNIS and VICTOR,I thought Greg Howe had to be a good musician a good guitar player and nothin more, but not,he is the a super star ,I feel Allan Holdsworth and Eddie VH in his music and these are words in capital letters,GREG HOWE will be a master in the guitar, because I feel that this is just the begining in a new fusion era.Thanks to Mark Varney for his prodigius hears.

A real masterpiece of jazz-fusion-rock music! We were used to listen to stunning and incredible Greg's acrobatic virtuosity, but here a real engine of groove by Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooten makes this album a piece of art! Greg grew up his style, by adding a tasteful jazzy soloing to a funky comping. Simply great!!

This cd rocks ! Virtuose guitar playing, excellent bass and heavy drum. It will awaken you from sleep if you dozed off on some "smooth jazz". I recommend this cd highly