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Joel Newton Situation: One
ByThe compositions on One, all originals, explore the common ground between jazz, funk, blues, and rock. Rather than comfortably settling into a groove and then milking it for all it's worth, they jump from style to style and forge connections in the least obvious places. Periods of introspective quietude lie interspersed between moments of explosive energy. Deliberate themes erupt into frenetic solos, offering irony and contrast aplenty. The interactions which pique the greatest interest include some refreshingly imaginative counterpoint with drummer Chris Michael and regular bump-and-grind funk with bassist Toshi Someya. While the clichés of fusion rear their familiar heads every now and then, most of this disc offers a new angle on jazz-rock. And at times one has the feel that three-quarters of the Situation simply exist to serve as a launching pad for the guitarist's intergalactic travels. But compositional leaps disrupt these head-nodding episodes without fail, and the band moves elsewhere. Coherently.
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Track Listing
Tech 2; Lunch in the Park; Vickie's Dream; Quintisms; Long Valley; Snoobin'; Tech Joel; This Way, That Way; Putney; Last One.
Personnel
Joel Newton, guitar; Lars Aakesson: guitar; Toshi Someya: fretless electric bass; Chris Michael: drums and percussion.
Album information
Title: One | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Guitar Nine Records