Izvajalec: Mark Egan
Založba: Wavetone Records
Izid: year
Trajanje: 61:07
Ocena: 4.3/5
Nekoč učenec slovitega Jaca Pastoriusa, danes izjemno uveljavljen basist, katerega renome se z vsakim novim izdelkom le bogati. Mark Egan, basist in trobentač, ki je najbolj poznan po svojem sodelovanju v bendu Pata Methenyja med leti 1977 in 1980, že vrsto let komponira sebi lastno glasbo s svetovno priznanimi glasbeniki. Za svoj najnovejši, že kar sedmi solo album, je zbral zavidljivo ekipo – saksofonista Billa Evansa, učenca Stana Getza, Mitcha Formana, McLaughlinovega klaviaturskega čarovnika ter Vinnieja Colaiuto (Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Frank Zappa itd.), ki ne potrebuje dodatne predstavitve, na bobnih. Že samo zaradi imen plošček “Truth Be Told” obeta veliko.
Egan je bil vedno zelo raznolik, pa čeprav se je gibal le po jazzovskem teritoriju. Od tradicionalnega jazza do tistega sodobnejšega, malodane nu-jazzovskega zvoka, raziskoval je tudi tisto bučnejšo jazzovsko fuzijo kot tudi nekoliko milejšo, prijetnejšo ušesom … Objadral je celoten ocean jazza. Prav slednje odraža tudi “Truth Be Told”, ki je zagotovo poslastica za slehernega ljubitelja jazza in njegovih podzvrsti. Za vsakega se najde prav poseben priboljšek, vendar je uživanje zagotovljeno ob prav vsaki skladbi. Seveda je ob taki zasedbi uspeh zagotovljen – ko je prisotna takšna vrhunska ritem sekcija, kot sta Mark Egan in Vinnie Colaiuta, je jasno, da bo glava poplesavala brez truda poslušalca.
Težko je določiti ravno enega favorita albuma, saj je celoten konstruiran na način, da se pretaka iz skladbe v skladbo, iz prijetnega v prijetnejše, s čimer je le stežka najti vrhunec. Ne gre za stopnjevanje v smislu, da se poslušalca pripravlja na glavni bum, ampak je namen plate dobra ura odličnega jazza. Seveda to ne pomeni, da glasba postane enolična in povprečna – prav nasprotno. Vsaka skladba predstavi neko nov delček mozaika Eganove glasbene vizije in dejansko je ta popolna šele po poslušanju celotnega “Truth Be Told”. In prav to je najzanimivejše pri njej – kljub temu, da komadi navzven ne delujejo povezani in so hipotetično lahko poslušani posamezno, dosežejo tisti pravi, namenski učinek prav v tem celotnem zaporedju, kot so.
Glasba na “Truth Be Told” ni revolucionarna. Ni niti bogvedi kako eksperimentalna ali inovativna. Vendar je narejena tako, kot mora dober jazz biti narejen. Menjavanje ritma ob pravem času, poudarki na mestih, soliranje posameznih inštrumentov, ko osnovna melodija poslušalca na to pripravi. Seveda je na plati najti ogromno odličnih primerov Eganove glasbene genialnosti, drobnih basovskih vložkov, ki močno popestrijo celotno glasbeno shemo, tako da se želja po nekakšni prekomerni improvizaciji in eksperimentiranju niti ne pojavi. Vsekakor tudi “Truth Be Told” presega vsakdanji barski jazz. To je živa glasba, koncertna glasba, ki si zasluži stoprocentno poslušalčevo pozornost in ni namenjena ozadju.
“Truth Be Told” je v celoti album, ki temelji na dobrem jazzovskem in funkovskem “groovu” in spominja celo na stvaritve legendarnih Weather Report. Brez maestralnih epskih vrhuncev, ob katerih bomo ostali odprtih ust, brez inštrumentalne prenasičenosti, ki zamegli našo glavo. Mark Egan je ustvaril odličen, prijeten jazz z nemalo funkovskimi in celo rockovskimi vložki, ki zlahka zadovolji tudi širše množice, pa si bodo ob njej vse prste obliznili tudi najbolj zahtevni jazzerji.
Once Jaco Pastorius’ student, nowadays an accomplished bassist, whose fame is getting bigger and bigger with every new record. Mark Egan, bassist and trumpeter, who is best known for his work in Pat Metheny’s Group from 1977 to 1980, has been pursuing his own path as a composer with world famous musicians for some time now. For his newest, seventh album, Mark brought together enviable team of players – saxophonist Bill Evans, once a student of Stan Getz, Mitch Forman, McLaughlin’s keyboard wizard and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Frank Zappa etc.), who does not really need a special introduction. Album “Truth Be Told” promises a lot for the names alone.
Egan was always a diverse musician, although he has been always creating jazz music. From the more traditional sounds to the contemporary jazz and through the wonders of jazz fusion… He went through it all. And this is also reflected in “Truth Be Told”, which is a true delicacy for each and every fan of jazz and its subgenres. There is a treat to be found for everyone, but do not take this the wrong way – the whole album is to be enjoyed. When such musicians come together, success is inevitable – with such a rhythm section as Mark Egan and Vinnie Colaiuta, our heads groove along the music without us even trying.
It would be hard to point out one favourite, because the album is constructed in such a way that the tracks channel through one another, and is therefore without a peak. There is no escalation per se to be found, as the purpose of the album is to present some excellent jazz. Of course that does not mean that the music is average and monotone – quite the opposite. Each track presents one part of the mosaic of Egan’s music vision, which is therefore perfected only when the whole “Truth Be Told” is listened. And that is the most interesting part – despite the fact that the tracks do not seem connected at all and that they could be listened as standalone, they create a whole new dimension when they are listened as one concept, as envisioned by Mark Egan.
The music of “Truth Be Told” is not revolutionary. It is not even very experimental or innovative. It is created and performed in such a way as good jazz should be. With the right rhythm patterns and changes, with instrument’s solos in the right places etc. Of course there are a lot of small indications of Egan’s music genius, tiny little bass inputs, which thoroughly spice up music scheme, and therefore there is no wish for any excessive experiments and improvisations (though these are present). However, “Truth Be Told” is absolutely not your everyday “bar jazz”. It is a live music, concert music that deserves the whole attention of the listener and is not meant as a background.
“Truth Be Told” is an album that is based on a great jazz and funk groove and is in many ways similar to the music of the famous Weather Report. Without any epic peaks that would leave us with our mouths open. Mark Egan created excellent and nice jazz with plenty funk and rock influences, which can easily satisfy larger crowds, but can also please the most demanding listeners.
Zasedba
Mark Egan – bas kitara
Bill Evans – saksofon
Mitch Forman – klaviature
Vinnie Colaiuta – bobni
Produkcija
Mark Egan
Seznam skladb
01. Frog Legs
02. Gargoyle
03. Truth Be Told
04. Sea Saw
05. Cafe Risque
06. Shadow Play
07. Blue Launch
08. Rhyme Of Reason
09. Blue Rain
10. Pepe
11. After Thought
