uitarist Larry Coryell and saxophonist Steve Marcus helped begin the
exploration of the boundary between jazz and rock in the late 60s with
the early fusion group Count's Rock Band. They recorded several records
and then split up, all before 1969. Coryell went on to lead his own
fusion band Eleventh House, while Marcus became the featured sax soloist
in the Buddy Rich Big Band. After a chance meeting at a concert in
1999, Coryell and Marcus decided to reunite as the founding members of
Count's. Joined by drummer Steve Smith, with whom each had played
recently on separate Tone Center label fusion projects, and bassist Kai
Eckhardt, who had played with Smith in Vital Information, Coryell and
Marcus recorded Count's Jam Band Reunion.
Count's Jam Band Reunion swells with a spontaneous, alive groove
under soaring guitar and soprano sax melodies. Coryell's songwriting,
as the sole writer behind almost all of the tunes, bounds with clever
grooves in odd meters that feel completely natural in the skilled hands
of Smith and Eckhardt. The songs range from classic fusion styles, like
the 17:8 time groove of "Scotland," to the more traditional electric
jazz sound of "Rhapsody & Blues," Coryell's variation on the Gershwin
classic "Rhapsody in Blue." The acoustic guitar and sax duet "Pedals
and Suspensions" breathes a mellow contrast between the frantic fusion
numbers like "Scotland" and "Reunion."
Coryell moves flawlessly from clean jazz chords to wailing fusion leads,
matched in ferocity by Marcus' sax. Eckhardt's bass, and writing,
provide a solid foundation, with his fretless growl in places recalling
moments on Gary Willis' solo records. Smith's tasteful and precise
drumming frames the whole sound while letting Coryell and Marcus take
the forefront. Pianist Jeff Chimenti adds a more classic jazz timbre
and considerable sonic depth on four tracks, a clever arrangement idea
with only one rhythm chording instrument, Coryell's guitar, in the band.
Coryell and Marcus may have set out just to have fun playing music
reminiscent of their 60s band on Count's Jam Band Reunion, but
they end up also capturing an energetic and unprompted vibe in catchy
but clever fusion songwriting. Count's Jam Band Reunion stands
as a great modern fusion record on its own, irrespective of the history
of the musicians and their music.
uitarist Larry Coryell and saxophonist Steve Marcus helped begin the
exploration of the boundary between jazz and rock in the late 60s with
the early fusion group Count's Rock Band. They recorded several records
and then split up, all before 1969. Coryell went on to lead his own
fusion band Eleventh House, while Marcus became the featured sax soloist
in the Buddy Rich Big Band. After a chance meeting at a concert in
1999, Coryell and Marcus decided to reunite as the founding members of
Count's. Joined by drummer Steve Smith, with whom each had played
recently on separate Tone Center label fusion projects, and bassist Kai
Eckhardt, who had played with Smith in Vital Information, Coryell and
Marcus recorded Count's Jam Band Reunion.