No Brakes

No Brakes, the 1992 solo debut from Tony Scozzaro, concentrates its energy on jazz-based stylings much in the vein of Larry Carlton and jazz-rock fusion kings Gamalon. No Brakes is an instrumental album focusing on Scozarro's fretwork, but he is not alone in putting out this quality recording. Guests such as Bobby Militello (sax), Bobby Jones (keys), John Caruso and Jerry Livingston (bass) and Al Monti chime in along with Anthracite bassist Rodney Apply and former Anthracite drummer Reggie Evans. Scozarro is at his best when he lets his axe do the talking - from the opening title track, "The Numbers" and "The Snake" to "The Jakeman". On each of those tunes, Scozarro stretches out, but doesn't ruin the tunes with a flurry of unnecessary notes. Instead, he plays what needs to be played - letting his friends fill in the rest. Only the closing tune, "The Anthracite Shuffle", is from his past blues experience, and even it receives a jazz treatment.