Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS CD ROCKS!, December 13, 2005
This is the best album released this year. Period! When I first put on this CD, I played the INCREDIBLE opening track "Superhero" 10 times in a row. It was so deep, funky and nasty. I was worried to play the rest of the CD because I thought, "Nothing can possibly top this."
Well, I was wrong. Every single one of the 11 cuts on Jazz Rocket Science kicks butt!
Adam Holzman is the most innovative musician and composer on the scene today, and his brand new album Jazz Rocket Science is his best release to date (which is saying a lot). Hardly surprising, given the fact that Holzman was personally mentored by the world-famous jazz legend Miles Davis for more than 10 years.
As you may recall, jazz became modern, hard-hitting, funky and electric with Miles back in the late `60's. With "jazz fusion," the music began an evolutionary journey that fused rock, R&B and jazz into one powerful experience where anything could happen.
Then smooth jazz came along and contemporary jazz got watered down into sweet-as-a-toothache music for people in a dentist's office. BUT THIS CD HAS CHANGED THAT.
On Jazz Rocket Science, Holzman pays honor to Davis, his personal mentor. The music is bold and powerful. It delivers full-throttle funk, soulful melodies, gorgeous chords and brilliant improvisation. This is contemporary jazz the way it was meant to be: fresh, bold, exciting, aggressive, experimental and brilliant!
Jazz Rocket Science isn't just jazz. It's a creative and fresh take on countless music styles. It combines urban, funk, rock, hip-hop and jazz with cool lush keyboard riffs, deep throbbing basses, funky guitars, thumping drums and cool melodies. If your mouth isn't watering yet, it will be when you take a listen to the seriously hip tunes on this album!
You will not find any bland tracks on this CD. Every song is first rate. If Jazz Rocket Science doesn't wake you up, and make you a believer that there STILL IS GOOD MUSIC OUT THERE, then you may as well check yourself into the local retirement home right now.
HIGHLY RECOMMENEDED!!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just buy it!, March 24, 2006
If you're a fan of fusion, this is a "must own" CD. I must admit to having just discovered Adam Holzman. I have now corrected my oversight by purchasing every CD he has ever issued. I have the same sentiment for his other works, just buy it!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Winner of Jazz Rock World's best Cd of 2006 , November 6, 2005
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UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
JAZZ ROCK WORLD HAS AWARDED ADAM'S CD
THE BEST JAZZ ROCK FUSION CD OF 2006
After several dozen listenings since our original review,
it is strikingly clear that this Cd is by far the best release of 2006.
In fact, it may be the best Jazz Rock Fusion Cd in several years.
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Songs:
1) Superhero (6:05)
2) Life on Mars (5:54)
3) The Telltale Heart (5:11)
4) The Whole World is Everywhere (3:44)
5) Firewire (5:21)
6) Level 3 Intro: Airlock (1:14)
7) Level 3 Containment Suit (4:06)
8 ) Maria Rain (6:26)
9) Kadiddle Hopper (5:43)
10) Kryptonite (for Herbie) (7:02)
11) Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (4:33)
Personnel:
Adam Holzman: keyboards
Aaron Heick: sax
Freddy Cash Jr.: bass
Mitch Stein: guitar
Alan Burroughs: guitar
Alex Elena: drums
Credits:
All songs by Adam Holzman except for
"Superhero" and "Firewire" by Adam Holzman, Alex Elena, and Mitch Stein
"The Whole World is Everywhere" and "Kadiddle Hopper" by Adam Holzman and Alex Elena
"Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" by Miles Davis
Nagel Heyer Records #2060
October 2005
Review:
"Adam Holzman is Jazz Rock's best kept secret" (and hopefully that will change). The Funk Guru of Jazz Rock has once again, since making one of Jazz Rock's all time best recordings "In a Loud Way" (1993) released another masterpiece that belongs in the Jazz Rock Hall of Fame.
While Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, and Joe Zawinul are the traditional Jazz Rock keyboard household names, Adam truly should be too. Since gaining international exposure when he joined the Miles Davis Band in 1985, Adam has consistently been the voice of the "real" Jazz Rock Funk, speaking in an intelligent, articulate, and tasteful musical language.
For the lucky few that know of his work and followed his career, Adam has quietly released some of the best music ever made . Unlike Herbie, Chick, and Joe, Adam never had the luxury of a big record label behind him and consequently has been mired on the obscurity of the genre itself. Shame on the music business!
Another way to say that is that Adam has been true to himself and the music, an attribute all too rare these days. Adam has never fallen into the typical pitfalls of so many other Jazz Rock musicians that ultimately helped diminish the significance of Jazz Rock over the years. His music can't be categorized as "traditional", "too many notes", "technically skillful but lacking feeling", "yeah, he's a great musician, but so what, it doesn't do anything for me", "ok, he's got a lot of talent, but the compositions are boring", and all the rest of the negative Jazz Rock clichs.
Adam's music by contrast, is extremely accessible without being blaring, avante garde, or smooth (the "s" word in Jazz Rock). Adam has listened and learned from the best musicians in the world to create his own unique style that, while unfortunately has not been prolific, is nonetheless of extreme significance and he should be recognized for what he is - one of the greatest musicians of our times. (That's not too overboard, is it? It shouldn't be - it's the truth!).
Jazz Rocket Science is a seminole recording in every way and brings all of Adam's skills as a composer, bandleader, and keyboard player into extreme focus. There isn't a single moment of music on this recording that is disappointing or less than exceptional. In fact, I find it nearly impossible to find a single flaw in any regard, except maybe the lack of major exposure it deserves. I like to describe Adam's music as the sound of Tower of Power arranged by Miles Davis, and I can't think of anyone else that comes close to that description. Certainly a compliment of the highest degree.
Jazz Rocket Science has it all. Fantastic musicianship that has the funk and the groove going in high gear, yet totally accessible. The compositions still amaze me, after dozens of listenings. Deep rich melodies, tasteful and stylish musical structure, highly skilled and perfectly played throughout by all the musicians on board. Every note is significant and bears up under close listening. There's nothing wasted, no overplaying, and seems to be perfectly carved out of the harmony of the universe. I get the distinct feeling that this music is so incredible in its simplistic complexity that it reminds me of how the great artist Michelangelo responded when asked how he made his famous carving of David: "I just chipped away what didn't belong". Adam is a master at chipping away what doesn't belong.
In summary, this new release by Adam Holzman is nothing short of perfect. By comparison to most of the Jazz Rock I've heard in the last five years, "This is better"!!!
By,
Rick Calic
www.jazzrockworld.com
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