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Drummer Steve Smith's ToneCenter label continues to rescue jazz fusion from the doghouse of jazz history with The Stranger's Hand, a high-octane quartet affair that features Smith alongside former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman, Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge, and multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy. Composed spontaneously in the studio over the span of several days, The Stranger's Hand doesn't pull any punches from the first lightning-fast unison runs of "Brick Chicken." It also isn't afraid to show its early-fusion influence, with several tracks uncannily echoing the early Mahavishnu Orches
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Drummer Steve Smith's ToneCenter label continues to rescue jazz fusion from the doghouse of jazz history with The Stranger's Hand, a high-octane quartet affair that features Smith alongside former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman, Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge, and multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy. Composed spontaneously in the studio over the span of several days, The Stranger's Hand doesn't pull any punches from the first lightning-fast unison runs of "Brick Chicken." It also isn't afraid to show its early-fusion influence, with several tracks uncannily echoing the early Mahavishnu Orchestra. Part of "Glimmer of Hope" is almost a dead ringer for "Dance of the Maya" from Inner Mounting Flame, and there are times when Goodman seems to be doing his best fleet-fingered John McLaughlin imitation. Still, if anyone can pull that off, it's Goodman, whose range on electric and acoustic violin is still extraordinary--he's equally adept at the searing electric-fusion runs of "Caliente" as he is on the bluegrass-New Orleans feel of "Sufferin' Catfish" and the straightahead jazz of "Elvin." Also, there are other spices here that make the disc distinctive, from Burbridge's George Benson -esque scat soloing on "Pinky's Revenge" to the harmonica of Levy (who also doubles on keyboards) that sometimes lends the group a bluesier, more countrified sound. --Ezra Gale
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Manufacturer: Tone Center
Release date: 31 August 1999
EAN: 0026245400528 UPC: 026245400528
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