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Words: Craig Hartranft Added: 09.10.2014
With Antoine Fafard's third album Ad Perpetuum I found myself traveling back in time. It's the mid-Seventies and new college friends are introducing me to the new wave of modern jazz and jazz rock fusion. Stanley Clarke. Chick Corea. Pat Metheney. Weather Report. Jeff Beck. Billy Cobham. Brand X. Keith Jarrett. And many more.
Within the lines of Fafard's ambitious jazz rock fusion compositions I hear these musicians, and history. Along for the ride this time are notable jazz musicians including, principally, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, Sting, Frank Zappa) and guitarist Jerry De Villiers Jr. Other musicians include keyboardist Gerry Etkins and saxophonist Jean-Pierre Zanella on several tracks.
The result is more of Fafard's compositional creativity and genuis married to some crazy talented musicianship. The songs and sound are pleasing, melodic and interesting, without being overly technical. Or perhaps it's better to say that the songs are rather technical but, because they sound so good and you're mesmerized by the musicianship, you simply don't notice.
One thing you will notice is that the lines between Fafard's bass and Villiers' guitar blur quite easily. The fusion of the two is immensely benign and fluid. Alternatively, the division can also be significant as with the latter half of Slash One. The next thing to do is keep up with Colaiuta's versatile and evocative drumming. His efforts keep pace and beat (The Egg), yet fly solo with polyrhythms both stylish and unique (Five Course Meal). To mix and mash things up some more, Fafard designed a drum duet within D-Day with Colaiuta and drum wizard Gary Husband, notable for work with Jeff Beck, Level 42, Robin Trower, Jack Bruce, Lenny White, Randy Brecker, among others. Simply, Antoine Fafard's Ad Perpetuum is equally beautiful, creative, and entertaining jazz rock fusion. Recommended.
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Simply, Antoine Fafard's Ad Perpetuum is equally beautiful, creative, and entertaining jazz rock fusion. Recommended.
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