Review

Jeff Lorber Fusion: Galaxy (Heads Up)

In the very early 80s, when I was a night club DJ in Leicester, I used “Fusion Juice,” a cracking Jeff Lorber 12 inch track (from his album Wizard Island) as my “theme” tune. Opened my sets with it, and banged it on really loud right at the end of the night after the smooches. House lights up – getting the evils from those who wanted to stay in a dark corner and continue dancing, sleeping, drinking or…. who knows what?

Loved the Jeff Lorber Fusion stuff, back then. So I was delighted when I heard he was coming back to the fusion fold with his next album, Galaxy. Wondered if he could pick it up where he left off, some years back. Guess what? He could and he has. And some. It’s a 10 out of 10 from me. It’s not all pure jazz fusion, but it is pure class. World class.

Big guns Randy Brecker, Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip (co-producer with Lorber and co-writer on five songs), drum stars Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl, plus percussionist Lenny Castro, are all over this. But more importantly, Lorber is too as a musician, composer, band leader and producer. He really is very special, and a pioneer of jazz fusion from way back in the 70s.

11 tracks. The groove is nailed from the off with “Live Wire,” all seven minutes and three seconds of it. Big Brother is a funky groove number, maybe even a slight hip hop vibe, with some fine sax work from Eric Marienthal. He plays a real blinder on the whole album. The guitar solo on this one is magic, from Michael Thompson. This 2nd track is a smooth jazz cut in Crusaders style, an under-stated horn arrangement from David Mann, a superb talent, and some lovely piano runs from Lorber.

“Montserrat,” really is Tower of Power territory. A fierce Greg Adams style horn arrangement, and it digs deep in the middle of the track, dipping toes into TOP’s Squib Cakes waters, and some David Garibaldi (in the pocket) funk on drums, from the great, great Vinne Colaiuta. He stamps his unique groovus delightius all over this. Dave Weckl replaces him for just the title track. This song is loosely based around the 1980 Police hit, “When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Around.”

“City” is Lorber at his melodic best, an infectious riff, hot horns and right up my street. A lot of the stuff on here would make for sizzling big band charts, methinks.

Lorber’s tribute to one of his personal influences, Horace Solver, on “Horace,” is a fine track. There’s the obligatory Latin flavoured tune on any jazz fusion album, Lorber’s offering is “The Samba,” at eight, featuring Larry Koonse on guitar. One of the most requested live tracks, “Wizard Island” is revisited from 31 years ago, with a very Bob James, Dave Gruisin touch. Perfect for a TV or film soundtrack this one. A wonderful fresh version here.

The CD has something for everyone, as they say. If you love great musicianship and tight arrangements, groove, style and jazz crossover, with R n B flavours in the mix, this is for you. The worst thing about this album for me, apart from just the one track I could not get into, (the title of which is irrelevant, because it all about personal taste and the next man may actually love that one,) is at 4.39 on track 11 - when it ends. It’s a stretch at my age, to reach for the remote to press replay. But well worth the effort.

Welcome back Jeff. Been too long away from this style of music, of which you do so very well. In fact; you are the jazz fusion Guv’nor for me.
Words SIMON REDLEY