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Editorial Reviews
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks held one of the most coveted chairs in television for nearly 18 years as the leader of The Tonight Show Band, when his muse struck and prompted him to take his axe and move on. Kevin surely did not idle away what little free time he had during that tenure, touring everywhere in the country and world where time permitted him, plus releasing several CDs on his own imprint. Before taking the TV slot that boasted talents like Branford Marsalis and the venerated Doc Severinsen, Kevin had an acclaimed recording career spanning several labels garnering many awards and a host of followers along the way.
This release finds him in the company of his favorite players, most of whom can be found jamming with him at L.A.'s famed Baked Potato (a guitar paradise where Larry Carlton, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, etc. have all performed). Run, don't walk, to the nearest player and check out Spider Monkey Café, The Dirty Monk and more sizzlin six-string songs.
Produced by Kevin Eubanks
This release finds him in the company of his favorite players, most of whom can be found jamming with him at L.A.'s famed Baked Potato (a guitar paradise where Larry Carlton, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, etc. have all performed). Run, don't walk, to the nearest player and check out Spider Monkey Café, The Dirty Monk and more sizzlin six-string songs.
Produced by Kevin Eubanks
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Probably too traditional for the smooth jazz set and too smooth for the traditional jazzer, Zen Food, the latest from guitar wizard Kevin Eubanks, may indeed fall between two stools. For me, a guy with wildly eclectic tastes who stumbled into the wonderful world of jazz through the likes of Russ Freeman's Nocturnal Playground and Andy Narrell, this disc not only brings back fond memories, I believe it helps me gain access to a rather small but not unimportant sub-genre of jazz: what may be called rigorous jazz-lite. How's that for an oxymoron? I'm thinking of the Dan Siegel of Departure, David Sanborn of Time Again, and, most especially, that great but relatively unknown disc by Steve Erquiaga, guitarist for Andy Narrell, Erkiology. Zen Food has the same laid back yet obdurate feel of Erkiology, one of the most difficult--and rewarding--moves to pull off in jazz.
With Marvin "Smitty" Smith in the drum chair and Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxes, two jazzmen sporting extensive and impeccable jazz creds, there's sure to be some genuine jazz fireworks happening--check out "Los Angeles" and "Das It," for example. But the default vibe walks the thin line between smooth jazz and authentic creative improvised music (another name for just "jazz"). That's the sensibility that dominates such fine offerings as "The Dancing Sea," "Spider Monkey Cafe," and "6/8." A bloozy vibe imbues "The Dirty Monk" and "G.G.", while an elegiac tone dominates on "Offering" and "Adoration," the latter being an adaptation of a famous Christian hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation," by 17th century German hymnist, Joachim Neander, set to the tune Lobe den Herren, learned by Eubanks from a well-known classical guitarist (presumably Christopher Parkening) the history of which Eubanks is apparently entirely unaware.
All in all, a very fine outing by Kevin Eubanks. 4 1/2 ****
With Marvin "Smitty" Smith in the drum chair and Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxes, two jazzmen sporting extensive and impeccable jazz creds, there's sure to be some genuine jazz fireworks happening--check out "Los Angeles" and "Das It," for example. But the default vibe walks the thin line between smooth jazz and authentic creative improvised music (another name for just "jazz"). That's the sensibility that dominates such fine offerings as "The Dancing Sea," "Spider Monkey Cafe," and "6/8." A bloozy vibe imbues "The Dirty Monk" and "G.G.", while an elegiac tone dominates on "Offering" and "Adoration," the latter being an adaptation of a famous Christian hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation," by 17th century German hymnist, Joachim Neander, set to the tune Lobe den Herren, learned by Eubanks from a well-known classical guitarist (presumably Christopher Parkening) the history of which Eubanks is apparently entirely unaware.
All in all, a very fine outing by Kevin Eubanks. 4 1/2 ****
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Retro Guy
Format:Audio CD
This is not your fathers bebop. Conceive of jazz group Oregon meets 70s prog rock group Renaissance meets John coltrane. Add caffeine, make it very cerebral and you have This Kevin Eubanks recording. I am really struck by the concepts fleshed out by these musicians. This is a thoroughly progressive and professional CD. The present and future of jazz is in good hands with Mr. Eubanks. We should wish him continued success on his recordings to follow.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Claude Balls
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kevin Eubanks has performed with this band numerous times at the Baked Potato in Hollywood, and having seen them there a few times, I can say this definitely has the vibe of being there first-hand. Agree with the other reviewer about the production - rhythm section sounds a little muddy to me, but the playing is great. A worthy addition to Mr. Eubanks' catalog.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Step Into The Future
This cd is like nothing I've ever heard. This is new territory Mr.Eubanks has explored. I love all good/great music from all genres and this compilation simply has vaulted into the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Arthur L Di Tullio
4.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome back, Kevin!
Kevin hasn't released anything in quite a while, so when I noticed a new offering from him at Borders, I decided to buy it, hoping that he kept to the tradition of those golden... Read more
Published on January 31, 2011 by Denis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eubanks strikes gold
We watched Kevin Eubanks for years on the Tonight Show but only after he left and returned as a musical guest did we see his true colors as a jazz musician. Read more
Published on January 15, 2011 by Mike E.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mr Eubanks Is Back At Last
Really missed this guy. I know he's been active on other projects but hasn't put out an album for years, and so when I stumbled on this it made my day. Read more
Published on December 30, 2010 by Abbey
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great guitar playing, not always great tunes
Zen Food has, predictably, a lot of excellent guitar soloing from former Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks. Read more
Published on December 13, 2010 by TheBandit
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Dancing Sea
Just heard one song off this album on WDCB, College of DuPage radio in IL, and have to say "The Dancing Sea" has lifted huge portions of work by John McLaughlin & the Mahavishnu... Read more
Published on December 1, 2010 by Lucy in the Sky
