Customer Reviews

Tree People

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

 

 

Metro's 3 CD releases feature hot Guitarist ~ Producer Chuck Loeb & Keyboardist Mitchel Forman as the bands main soloists. The 4-piece band is a side project of both members, getting their start together with Stan Getz in the late 70's. As opposed to Chuck and Mitchel's individual solo CD's, they seem to enjoy playing their early fusion influences, and surprising alter ego chops. It's as if Chuck & Mitchel said "No matter what happens with our solo careers, let's still have a band to experiment, and have some fun doing it!". Bassist Victor Bailey (Weather Report) & Drummer Wolfgang Hafner (V.I.P. Club) round out the rhythm section. The songs are well written by members Loeb, Hafner, & Foreman. The band has a tight "live in-studio" sound. Songs range from the Zawinul influenced "Tree People" & "Bing Bang Boom!", to the Metheny-ish "The Journey" & "My Lucky Day". Chuck Loeb will surprise many of his Smooth Jazz fans with his dark but powerful rock anthem "Prayer Stone", one of his most dynamic & best written songs. It makes me smile to hear him playing so out of style, and enjoying the opportunity to crank up the rock guitar volume of his song! Mitchel featured on his acoustic duet "Sleeping Beauties". Chuck offers a beautiful acoustic guitar on "There and Back Again". Nelson Rangel guests with alto sax on "Proclamation", the closest song to Chuck's current Smooth Jazz sound. Chuck's wife Carmen Cuesta also provides latin vocal melody on 2 of the songs. If you are into the 70's fusion, or are just starting to dig into Chuck Loeb's massive session & production discography. This CD will both surprise, and be played often!

If you're into jazz fusion categoy, you should take this out. This is the album of pure jazz fusion music in modern period.

They released two albums.

You guys REALLY need to incorporate 1/2 star increments. This CD is not
"Kind of Blue", perfect...but it's pretty damn close. Meanwhile this is noticibly better than many "very good" CD's I ususally give 4 stars to.

I'll give it 5 stars just because I'd say it's definitely closer to 4 than to 5. Outstanding playing, writing, and synergy. These guys sound like they've been playing together for YEARS.

Never heard Chuck Loeb sound this explosive before. German drummer Wolfgang Hafner is a BEAST and Victor lays the groove down smooth as only he can. Sound quality is top notch as well.

My personal fav is "The King and the Haircut". Bizzare name for a tune but who cares...I'm sure there's an interesting story behind it. Awesome playing by Hafner and Loeb on this one. There are a couple of Metheny-like cuts that are really nice and few down n out fusion BURNERS as well.
For good measure they even sling out a gratuitous smooth jazz ditty featuring Kirk Whalum. A couple of slow filler cuts at the end prevents perfection...but now I'm nit picking. Some people may actually like them.

Highly recommended and sounds as fresh today as it did 13 years ago when I first heard it.