CAB - 2003 "4"

CAB is a jazz fusion supergroup founded by Bunny Brunel, Dennis Chambers, and Tony MacAlpine. Since their formation in 2000, they have released four studio albums and two live albums. Their second album, CAB 2, received a nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards. Other members who have been a part of CAB include Patrice Rushen, Virgil Donati, David Hirschfelder, and Brian Auger.

When asked about the band's name, Brunel said:

“ ...Center Tone Records wanted me to record an album with Dennis Chambers and Tony MacAlpine. [I thought I’d create an acronym of our last names] Chambers, Alpine, and Brunel. I didn’t know that MacAlpine was an ‘M’ and not separate from the ‘A.’ But we thought it was a good way to carry the music... CAB, so we left it like that. ”
— Bunny Brunel

CAB 4 is the third studio album by the instrumental rock/jazz fusion band CAB, released on September 23, 2003 through Favored Nations.

"If you like old school rock/jazz fusion, this album is for you.Dennis Chambers is one of the world's best drummers (Funkadelic; John McClaughlin; Santana); he has played with all the best and is a phenominal player. Bunny Brunel played with Chick Corea and if you like killer, fast, funky bass playing, he is your man.Tony Mac is new to me and he writes swell tunes and plays exciting guitar and keyboards. Throw in Ms Patrice Rushen on piano on a few tracks and you have a heady musical stew.Well recorded, great playing, some long jams-a fusion lovers delight. Their previous 2 albums are equally excellent ( there is no CAB 3-some kind of inside joke). Happy listening."

"I recently saw Cab play at the Baked Potato in Los Angeles and they were amazing. They played tunes from all the Cab records, and all I have to say is that I bought Cab 3 from Bunny Brunel, its a live double CD of them playing at the Baked Potato. I forgot who the key board player was for the CD but the drummer was Virgil Donati, who is an amazing player."

For CAB consists of guitar monster Tony MacAlpine, bass wizard and Return To Forever alumnus Bunny Brunel, elegant and ingenious keyboard innovator Patrice Rushen, and the force-of-nature, unstoppable rhythm dynamo Dennis Chambers on drums -- each a giant on his or her own terms. Together, they are unlike anything heard since the glory days of jazz-rock fusion. As Steve Vai said it "This is the best fusion album since Return To Forever."

Though individual and guest projects clogged their calendars, the foursome decided in 2003 to challenge themselves again. Once more they opened the door, this time to Rushen, whose advanced harmonies added yet another dimension. Inspired now by their intensifying musical communion, they took the fusion pledge -- defy convention, keep standards high, and take every risk you can -- and plunged into CAB 4.

Their method was, of course, anything but predictable: Having already established themselves as a versatile live combination in the studio and in gigs, CAB tried something different on 4. This time, each track began with the writer, either MacAlpine or Brunel, creating a demo of the tune. This was then passed along to Auger and Rushen, who added their parts. Later they all went into the studio with Chambers to complete the project. Dennis unleashed rhythms that uncannily supported, interacted with, bounced through, and otherwise led to a final version as alive as any concert performance.

Track listing:

1. "Hold On" Bunny Brunel 4:35
2. "One for the Road" Tony MacAlpine 7:01
3. "Shizuka" MacAlpine 5:24
4. "Tony Mac" Brunel 8:33
5. "Raymond" Brunel 6:31
6. "BB's Rhumba" Brunel 4:53
7. "Bass Ackward" Brunel 4:51
8. "Cloud 10" MacAlpine 6:17
9. "Alphonse" Brunel 6:25
10. "Jam & Toast" Brunel 6:09
11. "Dede" Brunel 6:13

Total length: 66:52

Personnel:

Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, production
Patrice Rushen – clavinet, Rhodes piano, piano
Brian Auger – keyboard, Hammond organ
Bunny Brunel – keyboard, percussion programming, bass, engineering, mixing, production
Dennis Chambers – drums