I hadn't heard much of UK guitarist and composer Phi Yaan-Zek before this CD, which is apparently his third, but this is just one of those jaw dropping albums that suddenly sneaks up out of nowhere and takes you totally by surprise. Yaan-Zek seems to be trying to revitalise instrumental jazz rock fusion for the new century. He blends the power and passion of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with the complexity and quirkiness of Zappa, adds the lyrical guitar of Jeff Beck with fiery detours into Steve Vai virtuosity and delivers it all with graceful fusion stylings reminiscent of Weather Report and Shakti!
Like Zappa did, Yaan-Zek handpicks some of the finest instrumental talents on the scene for his band. The CD line-up consists of:
Phi Yaan-Zek - Guitars
Marco Minnemann - Drums
Fabio Trentini - Bass
Lale Larson - Keyboards
Peter Stacey - Flute, Saxophone
Brian Gulland - Bassoon, Glockenspiel
Maggie Tomkins - Accordion
Zack Haipney - Trumpet
Anarion MacIntosh - Didj
Missy - Vocals
Bumblefoot - Guest Fretless Guitar Solo
Drummer Marco Minnemann in particular lives up to his reputation as having one of the most impressive drum playing techniques around.
Track by track:
1. Solar Flare
Starts with a fast Billy Cobham style groove, with space-age keyboards and acoustic guitar, which is then hijacked by a manic Jeff Beck style guitar solo, before shifting gear yet again into a classical piano outro set against a psychedelic soundscape.
2. Hyperspatial
Rock steady drum beats provide the backdrop for what I can only describe as Shakti style melodies played by the Mothers of Invention. It weaves ridiculously complex guitar and keyboard unison lines around some wild Beck style guitar histronics and an impeccable drum solo.
3. High
A very catchy semi-vocal tune with a warm jazz funk groove and tasteful arrangements. Yaan-Zek shows he can also lay back and play within the confines of a more traditional song.
4. Out In The Boonies
A real tour de force that is built around a phenominal odd-time drum and bass groove played by Minnemann. Very Mahavishnu inspired with guitar and flute unison lines and a high speed guitar solo that reminds me of John McLaughlin's playing on Awakening.
5. So Far Away
A beautifully composed ballad with shifting time signatures based around McLaughlin style acoustic guitar chords.
6. I Phi
Eastern sounding funk with a touch of 70s Miles Davis, featuring some seriously strange quirky solos and some devilish polyrhythmic embellishments by Minnemann towards the end.
7. Psychometamorph
Starts with a Grand Wazoo big band vibe mixed with polyrhythmic heavy metal guitars. Then follows an unbelievable guitar duel with fretless guitarist Bumblefoot that playfully pushes guitar virtuosity into the realms of the absurd. Somewhere along the line this all mutates into a pseudo-tango with piano, accordion, latin brass, percussion and acoustic guitars! Simply stunning.
8. Little Space Creatures
Yet another adventurous Zappa-style polyrhythmic journey, with great bass playing holding it all together.
9, Grasshopper Medicine
Starts off with a didj and guitar ethnic soundscape before evolving into an uplifting cinematic melody. Yaan-Zek's guitar solo is masterful, using a myriad of techniques to coax different tonal colours and 'sheet of sound' contours from his instrument.
10. Passion Reborn
A delicate melody building into intensely passionate guitar ballad in the style of Beck and Vai.
11. Solar Reprise
Stacey's lyrical soprano saxophone solo sets up this jazz-rock masterpiece which ends up as a wild big band samba!
Its rare to find a CD with this much substance these days, There are so many layers to the music, not just in the exceptional performances, but in the use of ambient sounds to set mood and atmosphere. Its bewildering why such a musical visionary as Yaan-Zek is still totally unknown. I hope this release will change all that. In the end I guess my only complaint is that I'm already dying to hear more!
