GREG
HOWE - Extraction
(2003 Tone Center)
Greg Howe: Guitar,
Synth, Keyboards
Victor Wooten: Bass
Dennis Chambers: Drums
So Greg Howe has a new album out, with Victor Wooten on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums!!! Sounds really interestin' as a supergroup...
The title track 'Extraction'starts with Chambers settin' the mood for what you'll hear in this record. Greg sounds more fusion oriented than ever, with his unique and sooo well rounded style. Rhythm is becoming more and more important in his phrasing, maybe followin' Scott Henderson philosophy (Scott believes that how you stress the notes and pauses are more important than the actual notes you play). Greg also plays guitar synth and keyboards in the album, and the funky factor is strong as always.
Tease features a cool progression leadin' to a truly funky riff. I also love the sound in this. Greg also employs a lot his 'shakin' vibrato (similar to the one used by classical guitarists, it's just a 'on steroid' version =)
Victor Wooten also performs a cool,looped lick before Greg punches in with a high energy solo. The technique is, as always when listenin to a Howe album, way over the top.
Crack it way open features a cool interplay between Greg and Victor. Here I can hear a more melody oriented approach and, as Introspection is my fave Greg Howe's album, I just love it. I think that rhythm and melody are the two things that put Greg above most of his fellow so-called shredders. Again at 2:16 we have funk a go-go. Wooten seems to be the perfect bassist for this kind of stuff. Again Greg's solo is very energetic, featurin' some of his super-fluid lines.
Contigo shows that Greg has sooo much class.He's been on stage with popstars, and this song explains why. The man has a natural feel for melody and this song is just soooo well crafted. One of the best moments of the album. Cool piano solo too.
Proto Cosmos takes us back in the electric realm, and Greg shows his teeth again. He endlessly runs up and down the neck, soloin' over chord changes in a super-natural way. The only thing I miss a little in this album is the strong themes that where so common in Greg's earlier albums, such as 'Introspection', 'Parallax' and 'Five'. Greg is now more focused on fusion, and for a rock-lover as I am it sounds too intellectual sometimes. Cool Vai-sounding (Passion and Warfare era) ending lick!!!!
A Delicacy is a track that was already featured on Howe II 'Now Hear This' album. Greg shows his command of steel stringed acoustics too , and his control on dynamics. A great interlude in this electric album.
Lucky 7 features again a funked-up rhythm, with Wooten and Howe trading licks all over it. Cool breaks, more funk, more moody basslines. Those three players are just incredible...Prolly the most funky track, is also one of the best, with strong grooves all along it.
Ease up says it all in his title. Again a great track with very strong funk feel, but also very cool, weird-for-funk chord changes... Flute solo too!!! Composition-wise Greg is becomin' better and better. Just listen to the rhythm tracks and notice how he chains together chords makin' them sound so natural.
Bird's Eye View closes the album. Groove again. Cool mood changes. Double-stops theme.
This album just testifies how much Greg Howe is in love with fusion.
His groove&melody trademark approach makes possible even for a rock-head
like me to love this album.
It just needs some time to be absorbed. As I said before, I just miss
his STRONG themes,
the ones you just listen once and remain in your head for days...
But there's a lot to love in this album, which features three masters
of today music scene.
Don't miss the opprtunity to listen to somethin' fresh.
Rating: 8 -1/2
(reviewed by Max)