Coldwater

Album Review

Guitarist Robert Jacobson leads his quartet through nine mellow funk/fusion charts, often dominated (at least in the mix) by Hammond organist Wayne Peet. Jacobson's reverb-drenched guitar is reminiscent of John Scofield, while the band's arrangements suggest a less adventurous Medeski, Martin & Wood. Still, the cats can play. Jacobson himself has quite a range, able to keep the listener engaged through nearly eight minutes of "Dusk," a gently wispy ballad. And though it is a contemporary jazz disc, there is still some studio-induced depth to the recording. "The Airshow" features a well-rounded mix of crisp acoustic and electric guitars, semi-ambient rhythm tracks, periphery percussion, and jaw harp. Despite the attention to detail, though, the music sure could kick a little bit more.