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Joe Fonda: Eyes On The Horizon

By Mark Corroto
November 28, 2024
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When a musician who is a legend himself, herein bassist

Joe Fonda

bass
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Fonda, creates an album of tribute music to his mentor and teacher, it is rare that that person also performs on the recording. Fonda wrote the seven compositions heard here, with five dedicated to the master musician

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith. On Eyes on The Horizon, Fonda is joined by pianist

Satoko Fujii

piano
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Satoko Fujii, drummer

Tiziano Tononi

drums
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Tiziano Tononi and Smith himself.

During his career, Fonda has been heard with such jazz luminaries as

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton,

Gebhard Ullmann

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Gebhard Ullmann,

Roy Campbell

trumpet
1952 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Campbell,

Archie Shepp

saxophone, tenor
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Archie Shepp,

Bill Dixon

trumpet
1925 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Dixon and

Dave Douglas

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Douglas. He co-leads various groups, including the long-running Fonda-Stevens Group with pianist

Michael Jefry Stevens

piano
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Jefry Stevens, the

FAB Trio

" data-original-title="" title="">FAB Trio with

Barry Altschul

drums
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Altschul and

Billy Bang

violin
1947 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Bang, plus the Allman Brothers-inspired collective, The J. & F. Band.

Assembling this recording, Fonda chose Fujii, who he has worked with as a duo, Tononi—of The J. & F. Band—and Smith, who, along with the late vibraphonist

Bobby Naughton

vibraphone
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Naughton, recruited the bassist in the early 1980s for their Creative Musicians Improvisers Forum. Fonda can be heard with the two elders on the 1983 recording Procession Of The Great Ancestry (2009), re-released by Nessa Records.

Fonda focuses the music on Smith's compositional approach, even utilizing his notational system. The arrangements are composed and improvised in equal parts. Like Smith's work, it feels like a dream unfolding as each track progresses. "Bright Light Opus #5" stops and starts with twilight allusions as each musician pairs off and plays the repeating theme. While Smith's lush trumpet stylings are prominent, we hear excellent solos by Fujii on "Eyes On The Horizon Opus #3," Tonini on "Listen To Dr. Cornel West" and, of course, Fonda, both with plucked and bowed notes throughout.

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Track Listing

Inspiration Opus #1 (For Wadada Leo Smith); My Song Opus #2; We Need Members Opus #4 (For Wadada Leo Smith); Like No Other (For Bobby Naughton); Listen to Dr. Cornell West; Bright Light Opus #5 (For Wadada Leo Smith); Eyes on the Horizon Opus #3 (For Wadada Leo Smith).

Personnel

Joe Fonda

bass

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet

Satoko Fujii

piano

Tiziano Tononi

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Joe Fonda: flute.

Album information

Title: Eyes on the Horizon | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Long Song Records

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