Thick

Led by guitarist Scott Henderson, Tribal Tech have in the past been one of the culprits behind jazz-fusion's image problem, producing music occasionally falling into the "Extremely Complicated Music for Elevators and Supermarkets" category. But on Thick the band jettisons the sugar-coating in favor of a more improvisatory approach, and the result is a throwback to days when groups like Weather Report and the Mahavishnu Orchestra first married jazz chops and rock energy. Henderson and bassist Gary Willis, keyboardist Scott Kinsey, and drummer Kirk Covington are all monstrously talented, but that's not the only Tribal Tech attraction. Their group interplay keeps things fresh, from Henderson's wah-wah-fueled Hendrix-ian wail on the title track to the Black Sabbath-like crunch of "What Has He Had?" to the darkly evocative ballad "You May Remember Me" (dedicated to the late comedian Phil Hartmann). Some surprising extras, like the slide guitar melody on "Somewhat Later" and some bizarre studio experimentation on a hidden bonus track, make things even spicier. Tribal Tech have always been talented enough to make music that's almost too complex, but on Thick their energy is infectious enough to grab anyone. --Ezra Gale