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Jeff Coffin Mu'tet: Into the Air

By Mark F. Turner
October 4, 2012
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Emmy Award-winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin is a venerable road warrior who's probably more recognized for his work in the high profile bands of banjoist

Bela Fleck

banjo
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Bela Fleck and singer/songwriter Dave Matthews , playing to stadiums of 30,000 screaming fans. But he's also at home performing in venues that hold 300 appreciative enthusiasts with his Mu'tet—a longtime ensemble that espouses Coffin's philosophy that music must change and mutate in order to evolve. Into the Air continues Coffin's evolution of progressive music .

Whether providing horn arrangements that sing a soulful lament in "A Half Sleep" or slipping down seedy back alleyways in the stealthy "U Don't Say," the release exudes a carefree mantra, its tracks spiced with the varied ingredients of old-school funk, blues, gospel, and other music elements, as well as earnest jazz musicianship.

The release profits from taut arrangements and tunes that have been chiseled on the road by a cast that includes veterans such as drummer

Jeff Sipe

drums
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Sipe and artful Benin-born jazz star guitarist

Lionel Loueke

guitar
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Loueke on two tracks. The surprise, though, is found in the sinewy electric bass lines from

Felix Pastorius

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Felix Pastorius (son of the great

Jaco Pastorius

bass, electric
1951 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaco Pastorius), whose dexterous playing stands firmly on its own in regards to his esteemed namesake. His riff on "Lucky 13" is killer.

The Mu'tet delivers more than just jam band riffs covering the sounds of trumpeter

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis or keyboardist

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock's 80s' electric days in "8 Bit Goggles," as Coffin spaces out on electro-saxophone, or the equally far out "Slow Glass," as the horns harmonize in a languid stew. Then there's "Lucky 13" and "Loueke," which make good use of the guitarist's cunning chops and unique African voicings. Overall, there's a certain retro Harlem/soul-funk vibe to many of the tracks, with the exception of "Beautiful Flower," an introspective piece with a spiritual leaning that is just as memorable as its upbeat predecessors. It's a fitting conclusion to a solid release.

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Track Listing

A Half Sleep; U Don't Say; Lucky 13; Backin' Up; 8 Bit Goggles; Slow Glass; Loueke; Low Spark; Ride (Redux); Beautiful Flower.

Personnel

Jeff Coffin: saxophone,; Jeff ��Apt. Q-258�� Sipe: drums, percussion; Kofi Burbridge: keyboard, flute; Felix Pastorius: electric bass; Bill ��the Spaceman�� Fanning: trumpet, space trumpet; Lionel Loueke: electric guitar, voice (3, 7).

Album information

Title: Into the Air | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Ear Up Records

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