Ray Riendeau Joe Morris Ted Belledin - 2002 "Arrhythmia"

Arrhythmia is a classic jazz Fusion record. Original compositions played by truly gifted musicians. Certainly on the high energy side chops is the game and these guys can play. Thought has been put into these arrangements and the flow of the charts shines through. Very cool record for anyone who appreciates great performances. Recording sounds smooth and authentic.

The latest project, Arrhythmia, was more of a band effort that included Joe again on drums along with saxophonist Ted Belledin. This CD was different than all the previous ones in that we spent a lot more time writing ideas rather than just jamming. I also included more of my fingerstyle playing along with the usual slap acrobatics.

All in all, I'm proud of every CD. Each one of them was recorded at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences here in Phoenix. Joe is the musical director so we got free studio time. The only drawback was that everything we recorded was done under severe time constraints and was live, meaning we didn't use Pro Tools to fix things. We got one or two takes to get it right before we had to move on. I think the recordings reflect this, and I like that they have a very raw, visceral quality to them. Ray Riendeau.

Track Listing:

01 Arrhythmia

02 Kundalini

03 Momentum

04 Right View

05 Bodhi Tree

06 What is Rhythm?

07 Decon Recon

08 Right Speech

09 Chant

10 Sunyata

11 Hidden Channels Of The Mind

12 Mental Landscape

13 Ornithology

14 911

Personnel:

Ray Riendeau - Bass

Joe Morris - Drums

Ted Belledin - Saxophone

King Crimson - 1982 [2024] "Sheltering Skies" (Live in Frejus August 27th 1982)

Sheltering Skies is the first time the Frejus '82 show has been made available as a standalone release, and deservedly so. It's a fine snapshot of King Crimson at the height of their technical powers during a period of reinvention and stands as one of the group's finest live recordings.

Recorded initially for a video release, the audio from the concert will be issued as standalone release for the first time. Also, this is the first time a live album from the 1980s line-up appears on vinyl. The 1980s King Crimson was, in terms of concert performances/album releases, still less than a year old when this album was recorded. The collective decades’ of experience of the individual musicians is funnelled through the enthusiasm and freshness of the line-up and the newness of the material to produce a special concert recording.

There’s a palpable sense of energy and enthusiasm from the audience captured on the tapes at this concert as King Crimson (sharing a European tour with then label band mates Roxy Music) take to the stage in Fréjus, France, in late Summer, 1982. With two albums’ worth of material to draw upon (Discipline, October 1981 and Beat, June 1982) and extensive touring that had already seen the band play concerts in the UK, Europe, USA, and Japan, the live shows - as often with King Crimson – had a dynamism & punch that simply couldn’t be replicated in a recording studio. Add a pair of classic KC instrumentals, (Red & Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part Two), to that mix & all the ingredients were there for a very special performance.

In terms of live performance – the area in which King Crimson had and would always do its more innovative sonic exploration – the group was arguably at its peak circa 1982. The foursome had become comfortable (though that’s assuredly the wrong word) with the material from Discipline, and there was a cracking energy applied to the newest tracks showcased on Beat. That second-of-three was released in mid-June of ‘82, and by late August the band was simply on fire.

One more especially notable recording would come from an August 27, 1982 performance in Frejus, France. Now released commercially – which is to say not via fan-only channels, but through wider retail outlets – Sheltering Skies is a document of that performance.

The set list draws primarily from Discipline and Beat, but torrid versions of “Red” and “Larks Tongues in Aspic” are presented as well. The arrangements strike a fine balance between faithfulness ot the studio counterparts and an exploratory approach that opens up the material. Belew’s vocals in particular often deviate from the studio versions. The improvisational approach that marked mid ‘70s Crimson (as documented on USA) and later “double trio” and “seven headed beast” configurations would largely be set aside. But the music still crackles with unpredictability. The dizzyingly complex musical interplay of cuts like “Thela Hut Ginjeet” demanded much of the four musicians, but in their capable hands it also provided a canvas for flights of musical adventurousness. The aural maelstrom that is “Indiscipline” is even more terrifying in Frejus than in the studio. The subtle magnificence of “The Sheltering Sky” is even more transcendent here than on Discipline.

The music is muscular, tight and daring all at once, and thanks to the confluence of superb sonics and the spontaneity baked into live performance, some listeners may find that they prefer the recordings here over the ones on the studio LPs. Ultimately, there’s no reason to choose. Get ‘em both and luxuriate.

Track Listing:

01 Thela Hun Ginjeet 7:07

02 Matte Kudasai 3:32

03 Indiscipline 10:09

04 Red 6:02

05 Heartbeat 4:10

06 The Sheltering Sky 10:42

07 Elephant Talk 5:05

08 Neal And Jack And Me 5:42

09 Waiting Man 8:32

10 Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part II 7:14

11 The Sheltering Sky 9:31

Personnel:

Robert Fripp: Guitar       

Adrian Belew:­ Guitar, Lead Vocal

Tony Levin: Stick, Bass Guitar and Support Vocal

Bill Bruford: Drums and Percussion

Various Artists - 1998 [2000] "Who Loves You?" A Tribute to Jaco Pastorius

Jaco Pastorius was as brash and confident as they came, an innovative and challenging musician who, if anyone asked, would call himself the best bass player in the world. Almost 14 years after his death, the legend of Jaco continues to grow. This tribute, produced by Michael Colina, assembles players who jammed with Jaco on record and stage, and also those who were and continue to be inspired by his groundbreaking style.

Former bandmates Peter Erskine, Michael and Randy Brecker, Don Alias, David Sanborn, Mike Stern and Bob Mintzer all play with passion, as do bassists Victor Bailey (who replaced Jaco in Weather Report), Mark Egan, Will Lee, Marcus Miller, John Geus and John Patitucci.

Fittingly, the CD opens with Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone from the Sun.” Hendrix’s time was a few years before Jaco’s but Hendrix’s guitar was the same as Jaco’s bass: reckless, daring, uncompromising. Although Jaco could jam like a mother, he expressed many moments of tenderness, as invoked by Egan’s fretless bass on Joe Zawinul’s “A Remark You Made” and Bailey’s lead bass on Pastorius’ “Continuum” from Jaco’s debut solo album.

There are many more highlights, including the seldom-heard “Dania,” a free form and flying excursion with soaring sax lines from Mintzer. Two magical moments are fresh takes on Jaco’s best songs: “Three Views of a Secret” and “Portrait of Tracy,” the latter with Marcus Miller producing and playing all instruments. Sanborn’s sax is magical on “Song for Jaco-Song for a Friend.”

Of course, this isn’t a bass CD anymore than Jaco’s records were bass albums. It’s a jazz CD, with top jazz musicians infusing their own styles, from Bob James and Jeff “Train” Watts to Will Lee, saxophonist Bill Evans and Joey Calderazzo.

A bonus: Excellent liner notes from Jaco biographer Bill Milkowski.

This tribute to the genius of jazz/fusion bass pioneer Jaco Pastorius features many of the friends and musicians that jammed with the legendary musician, including Victor Bailey (who replaced Pastorius in the Weather Report lineup in 1982) and drummer Peter Erskine (Pastorius's bandmate in Word of Mouth). Bassists Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, James Genus, and John Patitucci play three originals composed in memory of the bassist and cover six songs composed by Pastorius. 

"Third Stone From the Sun" is also included, a song that alludes to a riff that Pastorius would often quote in concert during his bass reign with Weather Report. At the center of this tribute the listener will find a treasure. In what must be one of the most stirring renditions of "A Remark You Made," tenor saxophonist Bill Evans plays a beautifully haunting sax melody underscored by Gil Goldstein's accordion and keyboards that taps into the depths of one's soul. This powerful rendition of Joe Zawinul's composition is even more emotional because of Mark Egan's recreation of the signature fretless bass voice that brilliantly reflects the nucleus of Pastorius' greatness. This, along with the plaintive wail of Mike Stern's guitar that adds another layer of pent-up passion, will bring tears to your eyes. 

Victor Bailey plays "Continuum" to perfection and offers some highly authoritative statements to his excellent perception of the original vision. The song continues to stand as an enduring medium for their brilliant bass chops. Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, and Bob James perform the compelling ballad "Three Views of a Secret," with Brecker's muted trumpet emphasizing the dramatic inner self, or secret through shifts in nuance. "Song for Jaco - Song for a Friend" spotlights the reverence of alto saxophonist David Sanborn, the beautiful piano of Bob James, and the contemplative guitar of Steve Cardenas and closes the beautiful tribute. 

The music on Who Loves You: A Tribute to Jaco Pastorius is expressive, emotional, and brilliantly eulogizes the passion and forces that were a part of Jaco Pastorius' essence.

Track Listing/Personnel:

01 Third Stone From The Sun - Michael Brecker/Joey Calderazzo/John Patitucci/Jeff 'Tain' Watts

02 A Remark You Made - Bill Evans/Mike Stern/Gil Goldstein/Mark Egan/Steve Gadd/Don Alias/Kevin DiSimone

03 Continuum - Victor Bailey/Gil Goldstein/Steve Gadd/Don Alias/Michael Colina

04 Jaco - Bob Mintzer/Mike Stern/Gil Goldstein/Mark Egan/Steve Gadd/Don Alias

05 Fall'n Star - John Patitucci/Steve Cardenas/George Whitty/James Genus/Peter Erskine

06 Okonkole Y Trompa - Randy Brecker/George Whitty/John Patitucci/Peter Erskine/Don Alias/Michael Colina

07 Come On, Come Over - Hiram Bullock/Will Lee/Jim Beard/Steve Gadd/Don Alias/Andy Snitzer/Chris Hunter/Jim Hynes...

08 Three Views Of A Secret - Randy Brecker/Bob James/Steve Cardenas/James Genus/Peter Erskine

09 Dania - Hiram Bullock/Jim Beard/Mark Egan/Steve Gadd/Don Alias

10 Portrait Of Tracy - Marcus Miller

11 Song For Jaco - Song For A Friend - David Sanborn/Bob James/Steve Cardenas/James Genus/Peter Erskine/Michael Colina