Chasing Shadows

Tony Grey (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2008)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Abstract Logix
• ASIN: B00158K13W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #171,135 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Tony Grey is part of a new fraternity of extraordinary young electric bass guitar virtuosos (along with Matthew Garrison and Hadrien Feraud) who have taken the vocabulary of pioneers like Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke to the next level. The British-born bassist, a Berklee College of Music grad, has played on recordings by John McLaughlin (2006's Industrial Zen) and the Japanese keyboard wiz Hiromi Uehra (2004's Brain, 2006's Spiral and 2007's Time Control). On Chasing Shadows, his second recording as a leader (he previously released the self-produced Moving through his own website), Grey steps out in impressive fashion as a bandleader, accomplished composer and outstanding soloist.

Surrounding himself with a stellar cast of improvisers and fellow virtuosos, including drummers Ronald Bruner Jr. and Chris Dave, harmonica ace Gregoire Maret, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bass trumpeter and trombonist Elliot Mason, current collaborator and former Berklee classmate Oli Rockberger, the astounding Holdsworthian guitarist Tim Miller and pianist Hiromi, Grey acquits himself as a remarkably fluent player with a strong melodic penchant on pieces like the beautiful ballad Don't Look For Love, the breezy Walking In Walking Out and the upbeat title track. He reveals an appealing pop sensibility on Guiding Light, which carries a Police-meets-Pat Metheny quality, and he unleashes with abandon on formidable chops showcases like Dark Within and No Man's Land, his answer to Jaco's Teen Town. Grey engages in some lively call-and-response with Loueke on the buoyant Afro-pop flavored One of Those Lives and he builds to an ecstatic crescendo on the rhapsodic closer, Where Does It End. From start to finish, Grey delivers with authority, taste and inspiration on his fully realized sophomore outing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, June 14, 2009

By	hanyi ishtouk (eussr) - See all my reviews

Thoroughly composed and tastefully arranged set of 9 originals from (a) nephew of John McLaughlin's, amalgamating components of contemporary fusion, new age/world/smooth jazz -- though certainly not of the ultra-lightweight, feel-good background buzz (so) prevalent around shopping malls and yuppie cafés -- in such a stylistically cohesive manner which might appeal to a wide audience. Whether it comes to intricate unison lines, pulsating grooves or well-structured, melodic solos, Tony Grey is equally at home, with his formidable right-hand technique (in similar vein to such notables as Matt Garrison, Gary Willis, Dominique Di Piazza) and commanding, yet at the same time, subtle control being demonstrated on 5 & 6-string bass guitars (fretless, too).

The recruitment of a dozen highly competent and gifted young musicians in different settings for the album at hand pays off magnificiently. To wit: the non-intrusive and resourceful presence of keyboardist Oli Rockberger is indispensable throughout the set (make note of his impro, while scatting along á la George Duke, on cut 6); as well as hardly could one wish for more awesome drummers for a project like this than the relatively unknown Ronald Bruner, Jr. and Chris Dave; the characteristic sound of bass trumpet, let alone intriguing improvisation, is seldom heard in a context which is Elliot Mason's task to tackle elegantly; the welcome colouring from Gregoire Maret's harmonica also merits attention.

The memorable pieces, imho, are the sprightly and carefree 'walking in walking out' and 'peace of mind', the former of which has chord progression and musical exchange b/w piano and soprano sax (Bob Reynolds) being vaguely suggestive that of Yellowjackets; the true gems of 'no mans land' and 'dark within' (this latter one w/ Japanese pianist(ess) Hiromi aboard), both of which feature guitarist Tim Miller's triplet-laden, legato chops cascading, if we are not mistaken, via the modulated output of a mild mixture of chorus-reverb(-delay?) effects -- regarding possible influence(s), Alain Holdsworth and Bill Connors come to mind.

Other offerings include the scenic title song 'chasing shadows', the solemn 'guiding light', the lyrical 'don't look for love', and the slightly anthem-like 'where does it end'. running time: 63.05 mins.
If you like this CD, the self-produced, eponymous debut album by Matt Garrison (2000, GJP) can be a rewarding find, too!