eMusic Review 0
Making intelligent fusion jazz requires flair as deft and sensitive as pan-searing a fish fillet. You need concentrated heat, but not too much; minimize the seasoning, but make it count; get the texture at once crispy and juicy, while above all, retaining the fresh flavor. Zen Food gets most of this right. There are fluid melodies and technical wizardry aplenty here, reflecting the near-perfect craftsmanship Eubanks honed while heading up the Tonight Show band for more than a decade and a half. But there is also artistic empathy among the members of the ensemble, a kinetic desire to support and surprise each other, which stems from Eubanks taking this quintet into the Baked Potato club in Los Angeles for weeks of gigs, essentially woodshedding this album.
As a re-launch of Eubanks's jazz career — this is his first collection in 16 years — Zen Food both puts to rest any reservations about the guitarist's creativity or artistic bona fides, and perhaps tries a little too hard to remove any rough edges. The opening track, "The Dancing Sea," is exactly what you'd expect, with Eubanks splitting the difference between Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin with expert aplomb. I admired it… read more »
