Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » Let's Do It!: Recordings by Mark Egan, Carl Fischer and Terje Lie
Let's Do It!: Recordings by Mark Egan, Carl Fischer and Terje Lie
Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991

Chick Corea
piano1941 - 2021

Michael Brecker
saxophone, tenor1949 - 2007

John Scofield
guitarb.1951

Mike Stern
guitarb.1953

Chris Potter
saxophone, tenorb.1971
Nothing more natural than getting busy on a steady, thrusting groove and letting it all hang out. You see, the secret is all in the build-up towards a climax. A few heartfelt licks here, a few syncopated hits there, and the crowd will cheer every time.
Indeed, the idea of fusing funk beats with jazz-informed improvisations has much appeal for players for whom mainstream jazz's stylistic puritanism prove too rigid or just plain unsatisfying. Call it what you willcontemporary jazz, jazz-rock or funk-jazzbut the

Dave Weckl
drumsb.1960

Tribal Tech
band / ensemble / orchestra
Weather Report
band / ensemble / orchestra
Steve Coleman
saxophone, altob.1956
Though the three albums below all but shine for their originality or innovative factory, each deserve a worthy listen.
Mark Egan
bass
b.1951
Truth Be Told
Wavetone Records
2010
Reputed in jazz circles as the Pat Metheny
guitar
b.1954Jaco Pastorius
bass, electric
1951 - 1987Gary Willis
bass
b.1957Jimmy Haslip
bass
b.1951Richard Bona
bass, electric
b.1967David Sanborn
saxophone
1945 - 2024Toninho Horta
guitarElements
saxophone, soprano
From "Frog Legs," the cushy opener, to "After Thought," the sitar-buzzing, cloudy vignette that closes the record, amateurs of powerhouse fusion a la Weckl, Corea and Steps Ahead
band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1979Vinnie Colaiuta
drums
b.1956Bill Evans
piano
1929 - 1980
Carl Fischer
Adverse Times
FischMusic Records
2010
Also an experienced sideman turned leader, trumpeter Carl Fischer and his Organic Groove Ensemble pack as much punch as the former Metheny alum's outing, but with a less fusion-y sound and a stylistically more varied program. In "Wienhiem Blues" for example, the rhythm section's repetitive stomping behind Fischer's swung theme reminds of John Scofield's B3-fueled, crossover jaunts. On "Kirican Afternoon / Sonho Medley" things take a radical turn into the easy-listening territory before venturing into the straight-up funk route with "Open Up." And, the rolling, percussion-driven 6/8 feel that steamrolls "Adverse Times" also provide a rather sharp change of scenery. Throughout both "Open Up" as well as "Wienhiem Blues," Jay Azzolina's Mike Stern-reminiscent wailing kicks things up a notch, something his colleagues do not quite achieve in their solos.
A happy surprise comes when the eerie, Harmon-muted theme of "TuTu" peeks through its haunting, synth-washed backdrop. Penned by bassist-producer Marcus Miller
bass
b.1959Miles Davis
trumpet
1926 - 1991
Terje Lie
saxophone
Urban Vacation
TCat Records
2010
Conversely to Fischer's soporific ear-candies, it is a gruff, cartoon-esque chant that greets listeners to Terje Lie's Urban Vacation. The voice, that of Yellowjackets
band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1977Jimmy Haslip
bass
b.1951
Lie's Urban Vacation is in fact his producers' record. Nothing wrong with that. Happens all the time in the pop and country world. After all, who could blame an artist for wanting the creme de la creme to come in and help with the effort? Moreover, with cream comes smoothness, in terms of both the sound and the operation. In the "contemporary jazz" worldwhere smoothness is de rigueurfew come more recommended than Jimmy Haslip
bass
b.1951Jeff Lorber
keyboards
b.1952
Challenged technically, the Norwegian saxophonist has a tendency to stiffen up, which causes him to approximate the execution of his phrases rather than effortlessly spelling them atop the pulse. On the other hand, his intonation is, for the most part, accurate. But, the aforementioned imprecise, nuance-less quality of his execution shadows the otherwise amicable nature of his playing. As expected, the rhythm section unfailingly plays in the pocket (most notably on Roy Ayers' "Red Black and Green"), and guest guitarist Michael Landau contributes some intense shredding. As matter of fact, both the latter's presence and the rhythm section's sure groove makes the listen worthwhile, that is, if you can tolerate the smooth jazz conundrum.
So, do it! Abandon yourself in some guilt-free fusion music. As Notorious B.I.G. rapped, "It's all good!"
Tracks and Personnel
Truth Be Told
Tracks: Frog Legs; Gargoyle; Truth Be Told; Sea Saw; Cafe Risque; Shadow Play; Blue Lunch; Rhyme Or Reason; Blue Rain; Pepe; After Thought.
Personnel: Mark Egan: bass; Bill Evans: saxophones; Mitch Forman: keyboards; Vinnie Colaiuta: drums; Roger Squitero: percussion.
Adverse Times
Tracks: Wienhiem Blues; Adverse Times; Movin' Out and On; Kirican Afternoon/Sonho Medley; Downeaster Alexa; Open Up; TuTu; Freeport to Fire Island; Flo n Mayn Spirit; Elegy for the Fisherman.
Personnel: Carl Fischer: trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone; Ron Oswanski: Hammond B3 organ, synth, Fender Rhodes, accordion; Brian Wolfe: drums and percussion; John Scarpulla: tenor sax, soprano sax andspoken word; Jay Azzolina: guitar; Brent Carter: vocals (4, 10); Ozzie Melendez: trombone; Emiliano Valerio: tabla and percussion (2, 3, 5).
Tracks and Personnel
Urban Vacation
Tracks: Bail Out; Crazy Groove; Dance On the Water; Blue Funk; Sedona; Red Black and Green; So Retro; Coral Dream; Parlophone; Tonight.
Personnel: Terje Lie: soprano, alto and tenor saxophones; Jeff Lorber: keyboards and guitar; Jimmy Haslip: bass and scat vocals; Tony Moore: drums; Michael Landau: guitar; Sharon Perry: vocals; Ernest Tibbs: bass (1, 4); Jeff Olson: drums (4); Dwight Sills: guitar (6); Gary Meek: saxophone; Ron King: trumpet.
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