Al Garcia
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Review of "Alternate Realities"
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By: Scott Yanow
l Garcia is best known as a highly versatile and skilled bassist, but on
Alternate Realities his bass playing is only part of the story. Although he
can play all kinds of jazz, this is a fusion set in which Garcia is heard on
electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, guitar synthesizer, percussion
(congas, bongos, timbales and hand percussion) and, on three numbers, drums.
In fact, via overdubbing, he plays all of the instruments except for drums
on five numbers (which are either by Chris Garcia or Dean Rohan) and a piano
introduction by Fred Ramirez on "Secret Correspondences."
To his credit, the ensembles on Alternate Realities sound very much like a
working band rather than the playing of a single person. The nine originals
are complex yet accessible and sometimes rather catchy.
While one is reminded in spots of the classic fusion of the Mahavishnu
Orchestra, Return To Forever and perhaps Weather Report, this music is not
quite as intense and self-consciously virtuosic, instead leaving space and
paying attention to dynamics and pacing while sounding spontaneous.
Fusion has long been castigated by those who prefer acoustic jazz or mistake
it with the recent smooth music. Al Garcia on Alternate Realities shows that
there is plenty of creativity and life to be found in creative fusion.
Alternate Realities is recommended and available from www.algarciamusic.com.
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Scott Yanow / LA Jazz Scene
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