Album Review
This quartet from the San Antonio, TX, area performs jazz fusion the old-fashioned way, via loose grooves, jam-like soloing, and tricky rhythmic maneuvers. The core band also receives strong support from King Crimson eight-string Warr guitarist Trey Gunn and Béla Fleck & the Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin. The ensemble cites influences spanning Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and others, and while the music does not allude to anything that might be considered groundbreaking, the artists' overall scope and execution should satisfy most advocates of this genre. One of the more notable characteristics of this affair resides within the musicians' synergy, as defined by the band's moniker. They're actually having fun and not merely performing for themselves, and this aspect comes across in a rather prolific way. Guitarist Mike Brannon is clearly the leader here, via his original compositions and jazzy chord progressions. At times, keyboardist Andy Langham drums up notions of a bygone era, namely the '70s jazz fusion scene, due to his atmospheric Fender Rhodes piano and clavinet work. The group melds the new with the old for what stacks up to be an affable affair, enhanced by Brannon's melodically tinged works and the soloists' upbeat exchanges.
