Conjunction

Review

Something rare in jazz, Conjunction is billed to a rhythm section: drummer Mike Clark, bassist Paul Jackson, and vibraphonist Marc Wagnon, although the latter gets a leading role in this outfit, thanks to his great technique and his use of MIDI vibes to expand the soloing range of his instrument. This trio is completed by four guest musicians: guitarist extraordinaire David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, tenor sax Jed Levy, trombonist Josh Roseman, and reedist Chris Speed. This impressive lineup can be reduced to a quartet ("Horta-Culture") and go up to a sextet (on five tracks). If one takes out the post-bop ballad "Horta-Culture," the music on this CD lies somewhere between Pierre Moerlen's Gong and the Chick Corea Elektric Band, although funkier than any of them. "East West" and "Conjunction" provide the most satisfactory moments: a driving rhythm section, hot brass licks, and nice guitar. Fiuczynski sounds shy on this album; his work remains rather uninvolved, a feeling reinforced by the fact that his guitar is kept low in the mix. Otherwise, Conjunction makes an enjoyable album both for casual listening and for close-up inspection (you can spend hours studying Wagnon's intricate patterns). Not best-of-the-year material, but a job well done.