21st Century V-Bop

More new excitement from the world of jazz fusion …

21st Century V-Bop by Mark Anderson (drums), Paul Dunmall (saxophone), Philip Gibbs (guitar), Tony Hymas (keyboards)

Available from Slam Productions

Initially echoes of yesteryear with flavours of Miroslav Vitous’ Mountain in the Clouds and Wayne Shorter’s Super Nova, moving through Tim Berne / Marc Ducret freeform blowouts, and then into Medeski-Martin-Woods-Scofield-grooveland.

The interplay is especially noteworthy, no doubt in part due to three-quarters of the lineup carried over from two previously excellent albums: New Orbits and Infinity Calling. Here now with the addition of Ph.D founder member Hymas (also ex-, Jack Bruce, Stanley Clarke and Jeff Beck) who makes a significant contribution, anchoring the music, and underpinning it with syncopated keyboards and melodic runs throughout, often hinting at a classical training.

A considered, moderated fury. Funky at times. Searching at others. Always tight.