Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 08/15/2006
A native of Austria, guitarist
Alex Machacek's composing style is clearly influenced by
Frank Zappa, utilizing similar quirky, unpredictable lines and playing at a virtuoso level. One of
Zappa's former sidemen, the phenomenal drummer
Terry Bozzio, plays on three tracks, though his work was evidently recorded in advance for
Machacek to incorporate into his finished pieces. The opening to the frenetic
"Dijon Don" (jointly written by
Machacek and
Bozzio), suggests
"The Black Page" (
Zappa's showpiece for
Bozzio), though
Machacek is evidently responsible for the impressive piano parts as well, while the inserted commentary into the title track by
Randy Allar was also a favorite
Zappa tool. The leader's wife, vocalist
Sumitra Nanjundan, joins him for the
exotic "Indian Girl Meets Austrian Boy." The music throughout
[Sic] is quite impressive, easily eclipsing most of what passes for
instrumental rock or
jazz fusion. Highly recommended.
~Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
;)
Listen
