Customer Reviews

Stranger's Hand

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

 

 

I miss fusion jazz. I missed it so much, I started my own band to play fusion jazz 70-80's style, but that's another story.
What passes for "fusion" these days is like warmed over oatmeal.
On the other "hand", "A Stranger's Hand" grabs you by the shirt collar during the first measure & shakes & throttles you until the end of the last tune!
Holy cow, can these guys play!
I was already familiar with Jerry Goodman... I must have seen him play violin with the Mahavishnu Orchestra six or eight times! Plus, I've got all of his solo cds (which inexplicably are categorized as "new age"!)
I was also familiar with Howard Levy (from his long association with Bela' Fleck).
I was less familiar with Steve Smith who is an outstanding drummer & Otiel Burbridge
Who just blew me away on bass. I read the name & thought "whointhehellisTHISguy?" I sure know NOW!!! Holy cow what a bassist! This guy usually tours with the Allman Brothers??!! No offence to the Allmans, but what a waste of talent!
This guy is almost as good as Victor Wooten (Bela' Fleck) & Kai Eckhardt (Garaj Mahal) !!!
Anyway, the tunes on the album are set up to showcase everyone's enormous talent sufficiently enough to make ME want "A Stranger's Hand, Two!!"
If you liked Mahavishnu, If you love the adventurous nature of Bela Fleck; if you love Garaj Mahal, and, if you love wild, in your face, yet, still (somehow!) thoughtful jazz that makes no compromises to smooth jazz radio, then you must, ABSOLUTELY MUST get this cd!!

-Dennis the mad vinyl junky

The compositions are solid, well arranged, and ex-Mahavishnu violinist Goodman improvises with a searing stroke that re-vitalizes an instrument whose reputation was seemingly consigned to the sweetly arcane sweep of Gallic swing. This stuff tears up the sheet music. Especially noteworthy is harmonica ace Howard Levy, whose ability to produce chromatic scales on a regular diatonic harp gives us a cross between Paul Butterfield and , shall we say, Michael Brecker--his play is complex, gutsy, fast, intricate without sacrificing coherence. Jon Popper ought to retire. Steve Smith on drums is superb, Elvin-esque, as in a title here.

Fusion is sometimes considered a dirty word in today's music scene and mostly for good reason. Fusion is all too often watered down fluff or pretentious musical masturbation. The genre is full of virtuosos who are masters of their respective instruments, but who have no idea what
soul is.

One recent exception to this is an album called The Stranger's Hand which is out now on Tone Center. The musicians on the album come from a variety of backgrounds and never had played together before the sessions for this album. The group is held down by drummer Steve Smith. Smith is known quite well in the fusion world, but he originally made a name for himself drumming with Journey. Violinist Jerry Goodman was a member of one of the pioneering bands in fusion, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Bassist Oteil Burbridge came up playing with Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit and now plays bass for the Allman Brothers. Piano/harmonica player Howard Levy is a renowned session player who is most famous for his work with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

The music on this recording was largely composed on the spot with all members contributing to the writing. The music has s spontaneous feel to it that makes it dynamic and energetic. Smith is an extremely tight and inventive drummer and when he locks up with Oteil's bass the groove is unmistakable. Goodman's violin and Levy's harmonica are the two main voices here and both are very unique. Jerry Goodman plays electric violin throughout, but if you weren't listening carefully enough you could easily mistake his instrument for an electric guitar. Levy is one of the best harmonica players in the world. The harmonica is sort of an underrated instrument, but Levy's playing brings new respect to
the instrument. This release is also provides a nice chance to hear Levy play piano which is a rare treat. Levy is an amazingly gifted musician who seems at home in almost any musical setting. His songs like "Caliente" also provide the compositional highlights of the album.

While this disc is still fusion, it also has an edge and humanity to it. There are no synthesizers or other cheesy effects. My only complaints are that occasionally Goodman sounds a little too much like Eddie VanHalen and that Smith sometimes overplays, but these moments are overshadowed by the all around wonderful playing on 90% of this disc. These guys obviously had fun playing together and you can tell just from listening. There is a lot of genuine interaction and spontaneity. The music incorporates aspects of Jazz, Rock and even Folk and Country into the mix. This is a great release to listen to with headphones while lying down. I don't normally care for fusion, but these guys won me
over with this CD.

Goodman is the stylistic savior and musical class of this entourage. Steve Smith certainly has the chops, but shows little restraint here. At times this record sounds like one big drum solo overriding the other participants.

Fine compositions and none of the usual wanking associated with all-star sessions. They obviously enjoyed themselves, fans of Mahavishnu should be especially impresssed.

Probably the best of Steve Smith's fustion records for Tone Center. Howard Levy contributes some wonderful compositions. Of particular note is the fiery, Latin-flavored "Caliente" (Hot). That it is. Everyone sounds like they are listening to each other, and with fusion, that's the necessary ingredient for keeping it "musical."