Dave Weckl Synergy CD

Personnel: Dave Weckl (drums, tambourine, percussion); Brandon Fields (soprano, tenor & baritone saxophones, keyboards, synthesizer); Jay Oliver (organ, keyboards, synthesizer); Buzz Feiten (electric, nylon string & steel string guitars); Tom Kennedy (bass).
Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, California from January 18-22, 1999. Includes liner notes by Dave Weckl.
Recording information: Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA (01/18/1999-01/22/1999).
Although Dave Weckl is an excellent drummer, not all of his recordings have been excellent. In the 1990s, you never knew if you would find something exciting or mundane on a Weckl album. But this fusion/soul-jazz disc turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Synergy, in fact, is the drummer's most consistently satisfying CD. Excessive producing was a major problem on some of his previous releases, but this time he generally avoids overproducing and goes for a real band sound. Joined by tenor and soprano saxman Brandon Fields, keyboardist Jay Oliver, guitarist Buzz Feiten, and electric bassist Tom Kennedy, Weckl has a solid team to work with and emphasizes improvisation and honest-to-God playing not high-tech studio gloss. Weckl's band sounds quite cohesive on a diverse, unpredictable outing that ranges from the funky "Wet Skin" and the Latin-influenced title song to the ominous "Cape Fear" and the delicate "A Simple Prayer." If you could purchase only one of Weckl's 1990s albums, Synergy would be the best choice. ~ Alex Henderson
Dave Weckl's second release with his band comes after the group spent a long, grueling schedule on the road to support their first album. Hence, the title, SYNERGY, reflects the band's tight cohesiveness, and their ability to lay down intense grooves and burn through stunning solo sections as if of one mind. Specializing in muscular rhythmic complexities, Weckl does what he does best here while maintaining the clean, driving groove that has typified this project since its inception.
With the support of electric jazz veterans like Brandon Fields (sax), Tom Kennedy (bass), Buzz Feiten (guitar) and longtime partner Jay Oliver (keyboards), Weckl has graduated from the over-the-top style that characterized his years with Chick Corea into a mature, thoughtful leader. The music covers many stylistic bases while always maintaining a signature sound. Not surprisingly, there is more rock and funk in the mix than real jazz, yet still with plenty of room for some intense, though concise, solo efforts for which each of these virtuosos are internationally known. Disc highlights include the uplifting "Highlife," the shuffling "Swunk," Weckl's percussion extravaganza "Cultural Concurrence," and a remake of his own "Tower Of Inspiration '99."

5th Rel