Customer Reviews

Highlife

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This must have been Sonny Sharrock's attempt at a crossover instrumental-rock hit -- and it actually works pretty well. While the rhythm section (including the synth) is pretty basic, Sharrock's guitar is as powerful as ever and his choice of tunes (and arrangements) is creative to say the least: from the West-African "Highlife" to the traditional gospel "All My Trials" (done as an uptempo dance!) and Pharoah Sanders' "Venus/Upper Egypt" (from the late 60's classic "Tauhid", Sharrock's recording debut). Recommended for Sharrock fans and for anyone with an ear for powerful, intelligent electric guitar.

Seize the Rainbow (1989), Highlife (1990), and Ask the Ages (1991), the last three studio recordings that guitarist Sonny Sharrock made before his untimely death in 1994 could be regarded as thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. "Seize the Rainbow" is the most rock oriented, and indeed heavy metal listeners would feel right at home on the opening track, "Dick Dogs." This is a guitar record with a muscular rhythm section of Melvin Gibbs on electric bass and Abe Speller and/or Pheeroan Aklaff on drums.

"Highlife" was recorded with Sharrock's touring band, and while never entirely checking his free jazz credentials at the door, the inclusion of keyboardist Dave Snider and an emphasis on song forms and the inclusion of recognizable tunes (the traditional "All My Trials" and British prog-rocker Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting"?!, identified in the track listings simply as "Kate") makes this a more broadly accessible disk - i.e. the one your wife doesn't tell you to turn down. Note that the closing track "Giant Steps" is simply a 37 second fade recorded live. Yet the inclusion of this teaser and Pharoah Sander's "Venus/Upper Egypt" would signal Sharrock's next direction.

"Ask the Ages" reunites Sharrock with fellow Coltrane acolytes Pharoah Sanders and Elvin Jones, and with Charnett Moffett on acoustic bass, they make the unusual line-up electric guitar/sax/drums/acoustic bass work. The compositions are more developed than the guitar rave-ups of "Seize the Rainbow" but more harmonically open-ended than the more pop-oriented material of "Highlife." The most firmly rooted in the jazz tradition of the three, "Ask the Ages" is a worthy synthesis and a sad though ultimately fitting close to Sharrock's career.

"Highlife" is a bit of an enigma. It sounds as though Sonny Sharrock was attempting to pursue an audience-- the free jazz leanings of his previous work are nearly entirely absent, and even the hard rock sounds of the past couple albums are eschewed in favor of a lighter, more open and pop approach. And yet, the record, even while overtly feeling more commercial, doesn't feel like a sellout, and more to the point, it has some superb music.

Perhaps the most overt cause for the difference is the presence of live band keyboardist Dave Snider-- with Snider provides a sheen to the music that threatens at smooth jazz textures. The other big factor in the transition is the departure of Melvin Gibbs and Pheeroan Aklaff, both of whom were seeped in free jazz tradition. Joining Snider in the backing band is bassist Charles Baldwin, incumbent drummer Abe Speller and drummer Lance Carter.

Again, the material is largely smoother than any of his previous works-- on opener "No More Tears" for example, there's an almost Satriani-ish vibe to the music, and Sharrock threatens to cut loose but never really does in his beautifully constructed solo. Still, this sense of melodicism works well at times, particular on "Kate"-- an improv based on themes from Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights", where Sharrock is at his most lyrical and puts forth some of his best ballad playing. With this less aggressive setting, when he does cut loose, as on "Chumpy", it feels a bit out of place.

And speaking of out of place, buried on the album is a cover of Pharoah Sander's "Venus/Upper Egypt", from Sanders' "Tauhid" album, originally featuring Sharrock on guitar. While it's brightened up extensively by the opened drumming and Snider's glistening piano sound and threatens to fall apart during his somewhat forced solo, by looking back in a progressive manner, it points the way for what's to come for Sharrock.

Not the best of his catalog, "Highlife" is nonetheless a fine record. Newcomers should check out "Seize the Rainbow" or "Ask the Ages" first, but this one is worth the investment as well.

One of the 5 best jazz albums of the 1990's. The others are: David Murray, Shakill's Warrior; Ornette Coleman, Tone Dialing; Graham Haynes, Transition & Pharoah Sanders, Message From Home.