Customer Reviews

Multiplicity

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I own every album the band put out in the past and obviously a lot of jazz and fusion records with Dave at the drums. I say this last release from Dave isn't bad, but it's not that memorable in my opinion. It's a little bit slick. Everything falls in place, everything is perfect ... there's not fire. You listen to it and it's gone like fresh water, it doesn't leave you almost nothing. The best albums from the band are still Hard Wired, Master plan and maybe Rhythm from the soul I'd say (and the live one). Especially Hard wired. It's not even Dave's fault in my opinion. I think that in this kind of fusion music after few albums you come to the end of the road. Simply you don't have nothing more to say and so you can only stay there going nearer jazz in one album or near "rock" in the other. Sometimes it is convincing, sometimes a little less. This time to me it's a little less, this time the music lacks a little bit of personality. It's too slick, too educated, to synthetic music the one contained in this cd. There's not too much fire. Obviously the guys plays great bla bla bla bla. But when you have thousands of cds with great players involved you need to find great music in it. Knowing that these guys are exceptional musicians (and they are for real expecially Dave) it's not enought for me. If I'd be in Dave's shoes probably I'd take some time to think about the future of this band, about choosing with great attention what material to play next with it. Or the toy could be broken.

This is an excellent album by a fusion band. For the other reviewers who are looking for something "different", I think they are looking in the wrong place. The band's charter is sophisticated time modulations, complex harmony, and plenty of groove... and they deliver. Strong song writing is found throughout the CD, and the melodies quite memorable. It might take more than a quick listen to each of the 20-second song samples to really appreciate the music. After listening to the entire CD several time, the material really grew on me. The band is air-tight and Dave's playing is better than ever. His drumming in inventive and tasteful.

I saw the band play this material live in NYC in October, and it was even more powerful in a live setting. There aren't many fusion bands out there now, but this one is carrying the torch. Well done!

If someone asked me what album I'd recommend to get an average feel for what Dave's records are like, I'd recommend this one, because it averages just about everything he does. His latest albums seem to follow a formula of certain grooves that feature his spactacular playing (no doubt about it), but I bought this formula in the last few studio albums already. Trust me, if you have two or three of Weckl's previous works - you already have this album as well!

First off, I have to say that I really enjoy this album for what it is. It would earn 5 stars in my review except for the reasons I outline in this review.

When I was first introduced to Dave Weckl just 2 years ago, I was agog by the tight production and catchy melodies the band has consitently produced. I have nearly all of the alubms he has released with his Dave Weckl Band. They adopted a Michael Brecker-like fusion sound and ran with it. Every album since then has done little to tamper with or stray from this algorithmic approach.

I find now, however, that consistency has given way to reptition. Most of the stuff on this album is waaaaay too similar to other great songs on past albums. Perhaps not in note-for-note repitition but in style without a really catchy melody. If you are just looking into Weckl's modern solo career, then this album isn't a bad start. I wouldn't suggest you go out and buy Transition, Synergy, Master Plan, and Mutiplicity in rapid succession or all at once, but any of these albums would give you the same high quality (even if it is the same style) modern pop-fusion that Weckl is the top drummer of.

It really comes down to the question of what we know each individual musician on this cd IS capable of, and what we find the group putting out. I think that the Synergy hinted at by the past Weckl title is misplaced. There is very little in this album that pushes the boundaries of what has already been accomplished in the fusion world. Weckl and friends have the tools and the imagination to really push the envelope and trying to find new ground, but most often it is left to guys like Ben Allsion, The Headless Torsos, and older cats like Chick Corea to take the risks of moving forward in a genre like fusion.

Variations on the dotted-eighth-note (and off beat 16ths), as expected. But Dave plays some very "edgy" stuff on this CD that I haven't heard before. There's a wide contrast between the subtelty of torn silk on the snare and rain drops on the ride versus the in-your-face WALL-o-the trip-o-lets (and 32nds). During the edgy parts, Dave suprisingly shows what a virtuso heavy-metal drummer would sound like. Indeed, I've been a Weckl fan since 1986 when I was attending the Navy School of Music (as a drummer for the Army Band, trying to play everything Dave played :)). So, I can hear the "Weckl-sound" from a mile away. But there are times, during this CD, when he really surprises me with some great stuff.

Definately the best Dave Weckl Band studio recording since Synergy.
Perfect sax playing by Gary Meek , great arrangements and variety.

If you are a Jazz Fusion lover, then this is a great CD to add to your collection. Though the music on this CD has a unique sound, it somewhat resembles The Rippingtons, Yellow Jackets, Chic Corea, Jeff Lorber etc. All players are awesome and the band is tight!

This is my first Dave Weckl CD. I saw him live at Yoshi's this last weekend twice and got this CD. I don't know what to say. This band can groove. Dave Weckl has to be THE best drummer as far as technical ability is concerned and Tom Kennedy on bass is just... can't think of a word. The opening track is worth the CD for me. I'd like to give it 4.5 because this thing grooves hard the whole way through.I round to 4 because I reserve 5 stars for classics (Kind of Blue, Love Supreme, Sax Colossus, etc) and breakthrough albums. I'm definitely looking into getting more Weckl and I highly recommend this cd.

I just got Dave's latest. What a treat. He has successfully mated amazing chops with great melodies giving birth to great head bopping tunes. No noise here. All instruments represented by todays finest - the bass playing will melt your face. Dave's soloing over the ostinatos is, as usual, jaw dropping. This is music that not only Musicians will love - their girlfriends will love it too - if they don't, get rid of them. Now excuse me will I go look for my face.

Funny to rate a Dave Weckl album a 1 of 5, but listening to these clips...the music lacks....balls, yes balls. No punch, groove, and anything inspiring. When I listen to say, Stern/Chambers play, there is more power in the music. This stuff is serious spunk.
No doubt, Weckl is one of my favorite drummers and he has chops like crazy and a unique style, but for the music he plays...it's weak in my book. Sure, technically difficult, but so is walking a tight rope, so what. With that whining sax soloing until the cows come home, etc. Throw some other instrumentation or maybe stop playing so many freakin notes all the time, it gets a bit much to listen to. I could listen to Weckl solo forever, but in a musical context, this music leaves me uninspired.