Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » The Avengers: The Avengers: On A Mission

The Avengers: The Avengers: On A Mission

By Dave Wayne
October 21, 2013
View read count

The Avengers: The Avengers: On A Mission

If there's such as thing as good old basic, meat-and-potatoes straight ahead jazz, then

The Avengers

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Avengers' new album On A Mission could fairly be characterized as good old basic meat-and-potatoes jazz-rock fusion. Largely—but not completely—devoid of avant-garde, metal, or prog-rock stylings, On A Mission is a straight-ahead fusion album somewhat along the lines of recent offerings by artists such as

Mike Stern

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Stern,

Allan Holdsworth

guitar, electric
1948 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Allan Holdsworth, and

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin's Fourth Dimension. The band is led by guitarist

Beledo

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Beledo, a native of Uruguay who's been in New York for several years working with a diverse cross section of jazz and fusion artists such as

Randy Brecker

trumpet
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Brecker and

Stefon Harris

vibraphone
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Stefon Harris. Renowned in his home country, Beledo- -who also plays keyboards—started out in the late 1970s with the jazz-rock band Maytreya, and then formed his own fusion band— Siddhartha—which toured extensively throughout South America. During the 1980s, he briefly joined Rueben Rada,

Hugo Fattoruso

multi-instrumentalist
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Hugo Fattoruso, and Osvaldo 'George' Fattoruso in

Opa

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Opa; previously the backing band for

Airto Moreira

percussion
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Airto Moreira and

Flora Purim

vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Flora Purim during the 70s. Beledo eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he studied film music composition while making inroads into the LA jazz scene with a new US-based band called Hemispheres.

For On A Mission, Beledo has assembled an impressive cast of fusion musicians; each with an innate understanding of the jazz-rock fusion genre. Listening to this album, one can easily imagine that this music came together quickly and effortlessly. Keyboardist

Adam Holzman

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Holzman, who's been highly visible of late due to his work with Porcupine Tree singer / guitarist

Steven Wilson

composer / conductor
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Steven Wilson, is the other primary soloist here. Wielding a highly modified Rhodes piano as his primary solo voice, he relies on digital keyboards to provide orchestral sounds to flesh out melodies and to back up Beledo's guitar solos. Bassist

Lincoln Goines

bass
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Lincoln Goines and drummer

Kim Plainfield

" data-original-title="" title="">Kim Plainfield, both known for their work with guitarist

Bill Connors

guitar
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Connors, are quintessential professionals. Their playing, while never overly flashy or pushy, is always well above the minimum required to merely put the tunes across. In other words, they're putting some elbow grease into it, having fun with this music, and their enthusiasm easily carries over into the listening experience.

On A Mission is a fine record. Though it's not groundbreaking or startling in any way, the music is well-constructed and beautifully played by the leader and his consummately professional band. Beledo's sound on guitar is most closely allied to that of Holdsworth and Connors. The Uruguayan possesses a similar propensity for seamless legato phrasing, unpredictable intervallic leaps, and fluid, horn-like lines. Beledo's compositions are also substantial and distinctive without being overly complex. Most of the tunes are up-tempo, and all leave room for extended, muscular solos by the leader and Holzman, which is a good thing since both have plenty to say. "Exactly," "No Big Deal," and the title track exemplify this straight-ahead fusion approach, while tunes such as "Siddhartha's Return" and "Rauleando" touch on various aspects of progressive rock and Latin jazz without delving too deeply into either genre. "After All," a pretty waltz with a massively hooky melody, and "Jimmy O'Donnell's Air" are the album's mellower, more measured offerings but are no less interesting for that. Holzman's solo on the latter tune is particularly effective. The lone cover,

Marcus Miller

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Miller's "Portia" is given a sly, funky treatment with Beledo's slick guitar well out in front.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

On a Mission; After All; Exactly; Portia; Siddhartha's Return; Rauleando; No Big Deal; Jimmy O'Donnell's Air.

Personnel

The Avengers

band / ensemble / orchestra

Beledo: guitar; Adam Holzman: Fender Rhodes, keyboards; Lincoln Goines: bass; Kim Plainfield: drums.

Album information

Title: The Avengers: On A Mission | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Gudari Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Past Increasing, Future Receding
< Previous

Haymaker
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.