Extraction
Greg Howe/Victor Wooten/Dennis Chambers
2003, Tone Center

Pubblicata in data: 15/06/2004  

jazz funk fusion

Listen to sample

http://www.greghowe.com/sample_player.php?number=2  

Personnel

Greg Howe - Guitar
Victor Wooten - Bass Guitar
Dennis Chambers - Drums
Dave Cook - Piano

TrackList:

01. Extraction
02. Tease
03. Crack It Way Open
04. Contigo
05. Proto Cosmos
06. A Delicacy
07. Lucky 7
08. Ease Up
09. Bird's Eye View  


Review


So Greg Howe has a new album out, with Victor Wooten on bass and Dennis

Chambers on drums!!! Sounds really interestin' as a supergroup...
The title track 'Extraction'starts with Chambers settin' the mood for

what you'll hear in this record. Greg sounds more fusion oriented than

ever, with his unique and sooo well rounded style. Rhythm is becoming

more and more important in his phrasing, maybe followin' Scott Henderson

philosophy (Scott believes that how you stress the notes and pauses are

more important than the actual notes you play). Greg also plays guitar

synth and keyboards in the album, and the funky factor is strong as

always.
Tease features a cool progression leadin' to a truly funky riff. I also

love the sound in this. Greg also employs a lot his 'shakin' vibrato

(similar to the one used by classical guitarists, it's just a 'on

steroid' version =)
Victor Wooten also performs a cool,looped lick before Greg punches in

with a high energy solo. The technique is, as always when listenin to a

Howe album, way over the top.
Crack it way open features a cool interplay between Greg and Victor. Here

I can hear a more melody oriented approach and, as Introspection is my

fave Greg Howe's album, I just love it. I think that rhythm and melody

are the two things that put Greg above most of his fellow so-called

shredders. Again at 2:16 we have funk a go-go. Wooten seems to be the

perfect bassist for this kind of stuff. Again Greg's solo is very

energetic, featurin' some of his super-fluid lines.
Contigo shows that Greg has sooo much class.He's been on stage with

popstars, and this song explains why. The man has a natural feel for

melody and this song is just soooo well crafted. One of the best moments

of the album. Cool piano solo too.
Proto Cosmos takes us back in the electric realm, and Greg shows his

teeth again. He endlessly runs up and down the neck, soloin' over chord

changes in a super-natural way. The only thing I miss a little in this

album is the strong themes that where so common in Greg's earlier albums,

such as 'Introspection', 'Parallax' and 'Five'. Greg is now more focused

on fusion, and for a rock-lover as I am it sounds too intellectual

sometimes. Cool Vai-sounding (Passion and Warfare era) ending lick!!!!
A Delicacy is a track that was already featured on Howe II 'Now Hear

This' album. Greg shows his command of steel stringed acoustics too , and

his control on dynamics. A great interlude in this electric album.
Lucky 7 features again a funked-up rhythm, with Wooten and Howe trading

licks all over it. Cool breaks, more funk, more moody basslines. Those

three players are just incredible...Prolly the most funky track, is also

one of the best, with strong grooves all along it.
Ease up says it all in his title. Again a great track with very strong

funk feel, but also very cool, weird-for-funk chord changes... Flute solo

too!!! Composition-wise Greg is becomin' better and better. Just listen

to the rhythm tracks and notice how he chains together chords makin' them

sound so natural.
Bird's Eye View closes the album. Groove again. Cool mood changes.

Double-stops theme.


This album just testifies how much Greg Howe is in love with fusion.
His groove&melody trademark approach makes possible even for a rock-head

like me to love this album.
It just needs some time to be absorbed. As I said before, I just miss his

STRONG themes,
the ones you just listen once and remain in your head for days...
But there's a lot to love in this album, which features three masters of

today music scene.
Don't miss the opprtunity to listen to somethin' fresh.