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Sherwood, Billy: The Fusion Syndicate
Billy Sherwood - The Fusion Syndicate Review

Sherwood, Billy: The Fusion Syndicate

Progressive/Jazz/Rock Fusion
5.0/5.0

Website (Label) Facebook (Billy Sherwood)
Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra Records
by Craig Hartranft,  10.20.2012

Billy Sherwood's The Fusion Syndicate came to be after he delivered The Prog Collective to Cleopatra Records. Founder Brian Perera suggested Sherwood do the same for a jazz/rock fusion album. The result is seven songs composed by Sherwood and performed by an A-list of musicians from the world of rock and jazz. A complete list of players and the track listing follows at the end.

Billy Sherwood Photo

Billy Sherwood: stares you down.

The formula for The Fusion Syndicate is rather basic: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and a horn of some kind, usually a saxophone, but Randy Brecker adds trumpet on At the Edge of the Middle. The arrangements are structured by with ample room for some improvisation. Sherwood wrote all the songs, and the produced, recorded, and mixed everything himself.

I've always loved the whole jazz/rock fusion thing, having been introduced to it the late Seventies and early Eighties. While The Fusion Syndicate is sophisticated, it's not overly technical. Sherwood gives every song a lively accessibility, without being either overtly high brow or deceptively pedestrian. If you like melodic progressive rock, you'll find this music an agreeable cousin. If you've never considered jazz/rock fusion, then The Fusion Syndicate is a fine introduction. Easily recommended.


Track Listing and Players

1. Random Acts Of Science: Rick Wakeman (Yes), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets / Alan Holdsworth)
2. Stone Cold Infusion: Steve Stevens, Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater / Liquid Tension Experiment), Mel Collins (King Crimson), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
3. Molecular Breakdown: Jay Beckenstein (Spyro Gyra), Billy Sheehan (Steve Vai), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), David Sancious (The E Street Band)
4. Particle Accelerations: Larry Coryell, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater / Black Country Communion), Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea Elektric Band), Chester Thompson (Genesis / Brand X)
5. At The Edge Of The Middle: Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs), Jim Beard (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Randy Brecker (Blood, Sweat & Tears), Percy Jones (Soft Machine / Brand X)
6. Atom Smashing: John Etheridge (Soft Machine), Tony Kaye (Yes), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa)
7. In The Spirit Of …: Steve Hillage (Gong), Scott Kinsey (Tribal Tech), Theo Travis (Steven Wilson Band), Justin Chancellor (Tool), Asaf Sirkis (The Orient House Ensemble)

Additional instrumentation: Billy Sherwood.

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In Short

If you've never considered jazz/rock fusion, then The Fusion Syndicate is a fine introduction. If you like melodic progressive rock, you'll find this music an agreeable cousin.

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