1. OK, What Goin On
2. Revolve, Not Evolve
3. Message
4. Native Passion
5. Synchronisation
6. Loco Transfer
7. Discreet
8. Calling Out
9. GMT
10. Solid States
Dan Forshaw - Alto, tenor and soprano saxes
Chris Smith - Trumpet, valved-trombone, bass
guitar, keyboards, programming
As a drummer, I am
not naturally enamoured of drum machines but
synthesisers and computer programming are
sufficiently established in jazz for us to
take them on their merits. This collaboration
between a saxophonist and a multi-instrumentalist
(who is also a programmer) depends heavily
on programming to supply the backing for the
sax, trumpet and trombone. The main trouble
is that the backing too often becomes obtrusive
– swamping the front-line instruments, which
seem to be merely doodling on top of the pervasive
rhythm.
The other trouble is
that the programmed rhythm is often out-of-synch
with the bass guitar or the other instruments.
The sleeve-note refers to "computer-based
production with live instruments blended into
the mix" but a blend is not always achieved.
On the title-track, for instance, the rhythm
fails to cohere with the tenor sax, so the
tune limps along rather than swinging. The
most successful track is the well-named Discreet,
where the soprano sax is allowed to glide
above a discreet backing, rather in the rhapsodic
style of Kenny G.
Dan Forshaw and Chris
Smith are clearly talented musicians but they
should rely less on the artificial aids. This
album leaves me echoing the Musicians’ Union
slogan: "Keep Music Live".
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
4shaw Music
