Powerhouse drummer Chad Wackerman’s second solo album boasts bold melodies
and triumphant anthems that result in a spirited, buoyant, and lively sound.
A big part of that sound are the blaring horns – courtesy of Walt
Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn – that steer Wackerman and his band to the
jazzier side of fusion, without letting up on the driving force and kinetic
energy propelled by Wackerman’s pulse-pounding percussion and snappy beats.
Legendary fretboard virtuoso Allan Holdsworth unleashes one of his
best performances on record with a dazzling display of his lightning-fast leads
on “Close to Home,” and Supertramp guitarist Carl Verheyen threads compelling
distortion lines on “Across the Bridge” and “Black Coffee.” Holdsworth and
Verheyen split up six-string duties throughout the album, but it’s never hard
to tell who’s playing on which tracks since both have very distinct styles.
Also returning from Wackerman’s debut solo album along with
Holdsworth are Jimmy Johnson on bass and Jim Cox on clavinet, synthesizer,
piano, and organ.
Once again, the unique talents of each musician both
stand out and blend together seamlessly to yield a satisfying whole.
And it all comes at the behest and service of the
individual musical vision of Chad Wackerman.
--Raj Manoharan
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