THICK

Fusion masters Scott Henderson and Gary Willis dispatched along 1999 with this jazz rock cuasi-masterpiece. Complemented by two relevant figures from the jazz ambient, like keyboardist Scott Kinsey and drummer Kirk Covington, both historically close to Weather Report mastermind Joe Zawinul, I can say that as a whole album, Thick is the best production of Tribal Tech, at least in my opinión. Henderson and Willis are clearly amazing musicians who shone in the fusión universe not only with Tribal Tech but within another fascinantig projects like Vital Tech Tones (Henderson) or Uncle Moe Space Ranch (Willis) without counting their solo Works. Here, and in Henderson words, "There is a difference between Thick and the previous albums. Thick is much more improvised, but beyond the jazz concept. There was no music written when we went to the recording studio and no prior talk about music. We went directly and played", and the result is fascinating. Dynamyc, eclectic and for some moment a sort of minimalist art, Thick surely will catch you if you love prog and fusion as me. The set list kicks on with a superb groove from Gary Willis' bass in Sheik of Encino, over which Henderson begins to build his amazing solos. At the half of the track Kinsey enters with a sort of arabesque solo to which is added the guitar in a continuous crescendo. Second number Party at Kinsey is more or less in the same style, excellent. Tracks like Clinic Troll and You may remember me sounds more stripped and minimalistic but absolutely amazing. Slick stands out by Willis's bass solo work at the beginning for more than a minute, susteined by Covington drums, after that Henderson goes with an amazing and long solo. But the true star of the album is the title track Thick, a true fusion prog piece of eleven minutes. Starting with a bass repeating motive, Henderson and Kinsey begin to interact over it, adding the drums too in a clearly an amazing sort of improvisation. This dyamic is maintenied up to the minute 6 more or less where they take a break. The journey starts again with Willis amazing bass and then Henderson's guitar effects till almost minute 8 where later starts a furious solo over Willis running bass lines for almost two minutes. A short break and then the glorious last minute. A masterpiece no doubts. The album completes with a short and forgetable filler called Somewhat later, and the second long track What has he had, a good one but not on the level of the rest. Highly recommended music.