CAB4

Suprisingly no reviews but already 20 ratings with a score highly above 4, hmm... Is it better than the previous two CAB albums? I wouldn't say so, the quality is about the same. The music is laid back but containing a lot of great soloing, enough happening and clear music structure with good chord sequences. I like different bass sounds - normal, fretless. Drums are elastic, progressive and I appreciate some electronic drumming - programmed. Keyboards have more importance on this album. Another difference is that the speed of playing is generally slower but still masterfully executed. The first track is a typical energic song and could easily fit on any of the previous two albums. "Shizuka" is a mellow fretless bass accompanied track, a typical evening quiet fusion track. Guitar is soothing. "Tony Mac" has electronic drums that make the sound a bit more experimental but guitar playing and Fender Rhodes are very natural. The most intensive tracks are "Raymond" and "BB's Rhumba" with excellent piano, drumming and fretless bass with MacAlpine throwing in other virtuoso solos. "Bass ackward" has crazy bass slapping and creative drumming. It's maybe the only song without clear compositional direction, totally focused on jamming. "Jam and toast" is one of the more memorable tracks with jazz piano and clear simple motive. "Dede" is a fine last track with all typical ingredients of the CAB line-up with every player playing hell out of the instrument including Auger's Hammond.