Kevin Eubanks - Spiritalk 2 [1995]
Two years after releasing the original Spiritalk, Kevin Eubanks reunites the same group of musicians for another collection of organic fusion compositions. Drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, regardless of what one might think of him in general, simply smokes in situations like this. He is absolutely unchained, playing with the energy (and seemingly the limbs) of two or more men. Smith and Eubanks interact like McLaughlin and Cobham, or Morse and Morgenstein. Some of the most exciting moments on Spiritalk 2 are those in which their high-octane improvisations threaten to run out of control. The unusual sonorities created by this band are due in large part to the trombone of Robin Eubanks and the alto flute of Kent Jordan. It is a pleasingly warm sound, which fits in well with the masterful bass of Dave Holland and contrasts nicely with Smith's explosive power and Kevin Eubanks' snaky lines. It is a wonderful fusion. The leader is joined on guitar by Gerald Moore on two cuts, and the two interface nicely. At times on "Revelations," their interaction is reminiscent of the Al Di Meola/Paco de Lucia/John McLaughlin trios that took place in the early '80s. On tracks such as "Moon," the McLaughlin influence is even more pronounced, with a guitar intro that is extremely similar to McLaughlin's "Guardian Angel." Also guesting is drummer Gene Jackson, who subs for Smith on "Being." Jackson approaches the music in basically the same way as Smith, but perhaps with a little less rock and a little more Elvin Jones thrown into the mix. A cross between Oregon and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Kevin Eubanks' Spiritalk band is extremely unique. The nine compositions tend to run together in the mind of the listener a bit, but the excitement of these musicians is infectious.
Kevin Eubanks - Turning Point [1991]
I could tell from the first cut that this was a great jazz record. The music on this disk packs a real edge with some excellent drum and bass work. His guitar sound on this record is very unique and the accoustic sound works as a great front to the hard charging bass and drums. He has two driummers and two bass players Marvin Smitty Smith on drums and Dave Holland along with Charnet Moffet on bass. The other drummer is very good but I am unfamiliar with his work. Kevin got to a very cutting edge place on this recording and plays some solos with amazing speed. Anyone who likes the sound of Pat Metheny or John Scofield will be amazed at how good of a guitar player Kevin is.
Kevin Eubanks - The Searcher [1989]
If he wasn't such a great guitarist, this recording would be easy to dismiss. Most GRP releases, especially back in the late '80s, epitomized the commercial jazz sound. There are several light tracks here that qualify as elevator music; however, there are some good tracks as well. Both "The Story Teller" and "Straightjacket" are listenable funk/fusion romps that showcase both Eubanks and Jackson, but the real gem here is "In Search of the Searcher," featuring Edward Simon on piano and Dennis Chambers on drums. Being a consummate professional and ultimate musician, Eubanks is able to work within his confined parameters and make tunes such as "Forgotten Future" and "Poem for a Sleeping Child" a pleasant and interesting listen. The producers here were obviously trying to recreate some of the appeal that Pat Metheny achieved by using Mark Ledford's voicings. Another "diet jazz" recording from GRP with hints of Eubanks' genius spread thinly throughout.
* Another Great Timbateamz Post *
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