Member:
ProgMetalFusion
Date:
4/26/2004
Imagine the Mahavishnu Orchestra with a smidge less chaos and a pinch more groove, and a sax player instead of a violinist, and you've got an inkling of what this excellent new jazz-rock fusion band sounds like on their spectacular 2003 debut album. The complex, yet somehow loose compositions, the monster chops, and the very 'live' feel of the recording all combine to make this disc highly reminiscent of The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire for me.
On What Is Paragon?, guitarist Robert Howard, saxophonist Matt Baumann, electric pianist (another homage to the M.O.?) Ben Langlois, bassist Jason Gahler and drummer Matt Schieferstein have crafted a sound that truly captures the passion, grace and fire of all the best 70s jazz-rock fusion, and renders it timeless. This is a must-have for any true fusion fanatic. Further proof that no matter what critics and so-called 'smooth jazz' radio programmers think, real honest-to-goodness fusion is alive and well and kicking much gluteus maximus.
Rating: ***** (out of five), or 10 points (out of 10)
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