Bernhard Lackner: In Between (2009)

Exactly 3 years after his debut release "Those Days", Austrian bassist/composer Bernhard Lackner comes out with his 2nd Album "In Between".

Modern Fusion jazz featuring many many great players including Adam Holzman, Chester Thompson, Jeff Coffin, Marco Minnemann, Derico Watson and many more. Recorded in Nashville, produced by Adam Nitti, co-produced by Bernhard Lackner. Check it out!!

Personnel:

Bernhard Lackner (bass);
Christian Stueckelschweiger (piano);
Scott Bernard (guitar);
Derico Watson (drums);
Adam Agati (guitar);
Doug Belote (drums);
Jeff Coffin (sax);
Scott Hallgren (keyboards);
Steve Cunningham (guitar);
Chester Thompson (drums);
De Marco Johnson (harmonica, keyboards);
Marcus Finnie (drums);
Mike Whittaker (keyboards);
Marco Minnemann (drums);
Mike Bauer (guitar);
Adam Holzman (keyboards).
Tracklist
1. Take Off Your Shoes (6:21)
2. The Next Step (6:35)
3. Maybe Another Time (6:17)
4. Twelve Years Later (6:54)
5. Almost Home (2:20)
6. In Between (6:31)
7. Being Away (7:14)
8. Thanks And See You Next Time (5:33)
In Between
Hotfile / Uploading @ 320K

Jeff Coffin: Mutopia (2008)

Jeff Coffin's work with Béla Fleck's Flecktones has only been somewhat reflective of his efforts as a leader. The saxophonist/composer is quite able in a more progressive, accessibly contemporary style to express his personalized music, which is in many ways substantive and cleverly rendered. While recent efforts have veered toward a commercialized approach, this CD with his Mu'tet bears distinct elements of the Jazz Crusaders and the first bands of Derek Trucks. No doubt the addition of a stout horn section on a few selections, and collaboration with the keyboardist and flute player Kofi Burbridge — well known for his work with the Trucks band — has a lot to do with how this group reacts and responds. All in all, there's some very hip music here, ranging from the 7/4 funk with dual electric bass guitarists on "Al's Greens" including a banjo solo from boss man Fleck, to "Move Your Rug" with varying beats in six and seven mixing up the complicated and simplistic horns with a New Orleans beat. The outstanding, developed, dramatic, Middle Eastern flavored "L'Esperance" is introduced by Coffin's resplendent, floating mbira, then his tenor sax and flute foreshadowed Burbridge's desert-to-jungle flute solo. "Turiya" is a calm, serene, and beautiful tribute to the late Alice Coltrane with Coffin on soprano sax and Burbridge on acoustic grand piano. The molasses slow "Sweet Magnolias" offers a legitimate blues framework for Coffin's legato tenor, and a bonus track, "Emma Ya," is a soul deep, light reggae tune. Trombonists Barry Green or Roy Agee are added for the funk-with-a twist track "Tag" or the Stax style soul pop cut "One In, One Out" respectively, with Burbridge jammin' on the Hammond B-3 organ. Agee, trumpeter Rod McGaha, and sousaphonist Joe Murphy expand the horizons of "Move Your Rug." Also present is electric bass guitarist Felix Pastorius, one of the twin sons of the legendary Jaco Pastorius, and fellow Flecktone, drummer Roy "Future Man" Wooten. The collective energy, team work, and top-drawer ability of Coffin, not to mention the diversity of the recording, is hard to deny. This might be the best effort yet for the Mu'tet, top to bottom.
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Mutopia - Part 1 - Part 2 (RS) Part 1 - Part 2 (HF) lossless

Jeff Coffin: Commonality (1999)

If you are searching for the next upcoming original saxophonist in modern jazz, Coffin may be your man. He plays alto and tenor in a manner very reminiscent of a young Sonny Rollins; savvy, brawny, unabashed, and fearless. Four of the nine cuts are with sax-bass-drums, again evoking favorable comparison to the legendary hard bop-edged Rollins-Wilbur Ware-Elvin Jones triad. Trumpeter Rod McGaha is on the other five, and he adds a lot — his saucy Don Cherry-like smeared solos and pungent harmonic lines run in tandem with Coffin, making a formidable team and an arresting sound. The trio takes on some stiff challenges: a moderate New Orleans shuffle ("First Comes Last"), a fanfare intro to head noddin' bluesy swing to free boppin' title track, and a sweet and sour blues ("Espoo You"). The finale is a hymnal reverent "Prayer" with jingle bell threads woven throughout. But "Angle of Response" is a lengthy barnburner, a modal bassline in five and four beats alternately providing the foundation for Coffin to play alto and tenor simultaneously. The following piece, "Something Quick" (another workout at over ten minutes), has the band chewing up everything in its path, a tour de force hard bop epic. Seamless free sections are included here and there, and the ensemble, with bassist Chris Enghauser and drummer Tom Giampietro, keep the music percolating no matter the tempo. Coffin has a tiger by the tail on this extraordinary, highly recommended disc.

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Commonality (RS) / Commonality (HF) @ 320K

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones: The Hidden Land (2006)

Banjo player Bela Fleck has a world-class set of chops and a willingness to follow his muse wherever it takes him. The band ranges far and wide once again on the The Hidden Land ­ it opens with a Bach Fugue, delves into swing, has a bit of bluegrass, does progressive rock, and jets to several other locales. But the everything-and-the-kitchen sink concept is still considerable more streamlined than 2003's Little Worlds, an overproduced and under-focused three-CD set. Highlights here include Fleck's pickin' on a progressive country stomp called "Weed Whacker" and the playful "Couch Potato," which has a hyper edge that doesn't match the sedentary implications of the title. The band's telepathic interaction is highlighted on the Middle East-influenced "Chennai," ­where musical lines are played in unison or tossed back and forth, making the song crackle with energy. The broad aesthetic and restless sonic changes might be a bit much for some, but a patient survey of this album will be rewarded. ­--Tad Hendrickson

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The Hidden Land (2006) / The Hidden Land (2006) @ 320K