Trevor Rabin, Nir Felder, Judith Owen are part of the latest edition of Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately …
JUDITH OWEN – THE HERE & NOW (POP/ROCK): – How does Judith Owen top the hilariously strange and hook-laden single, “Second Hand Sexbot”? By doing what she does best with the new EP, The Here & Now, relying on her formidable songwriting talents, stunning keyboard skills and long-time bandmate Leland Sklar. The six-song EP was recorded quickly during the COVID-19 lockdown, yet reflect an artist at the top of her game. “Fork in the Road” has hints of melancholy which quickly moves to optimism and hope. “Morally Delinquent (Shit For Brains)” is an all-too-real tale of narcissism and stupidity. You can’t help but laugh to prevent the tears. The Hear & Now is an understated Judith Owen masterpiece.
TREVOR RABIN – CHANGES (PROG/ROCK): Trevor Rabin has an amazingly diverse solo career outside of the Yes orbit, and most of it is captured in this 10-disc anthology. Changes includes exclusive photos, extensive liner notes, photo books from the making of the Wolf and Can’t Look Away albums, as well as a signed certificate from Rabin. It’s a must-have for fans of his tenure with Yes. Not that Rabin didn’t have his own style before joining the world’s greatest progressive rock band. Wolf, in fact, is one of my favorite Rabin discoveries. Sure, it has an ’80s AOR feel, but Trevor Rabin is always craftsman, as shown on songs like “Open Ended” and “Long Island,” the latter of which was co-written with Ray Davies. Changes also features A-list help like Simon Phillips on drums and Jack Bruce on bass. Equally enchanting are the 90124 and Live in Boston discs. The latter offers a look behind the curtain at what would become Yes’ best-selling album, while the former captures a rare glimpse of Trevor Rabin in full flight and without a net. There is so much music here, it would take weeks to digest it all. Yes, there are two wonderful versions of “Owner of a Lonely Heart” among the live and demos, too.
FERNANDO HUERGO BIG BAND – THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE (JAZZ): Bassist/bandleader Fernando Huergo has pulled together an ensemble that covers an incredible amount of ground. The Possibility of Change casts a vivid allure as it incorporates big band, with touches of South American rhythms and virtuosity. “Field of Sky” and “Processional” rank as some of my favorite big-band jazz songs of 2020. Even with 11 projects to his name as leader, Fernando Huergo doesn’t seem to rest.
NIR FELDER – II (JAZZ FUSION): New York-based guitarist Nir Felder’s new album II, out now on Ropeadope records, is an evocative and luscious effort. Felder, double bassist Matt Penman and drummer Jimmy McBride have created a soundscape that’s both melodically and texturally complex. “Interregnum” is forward leaning and fast paced, benefiting from Nir’s delicate touch. “Big Heat” adds additional elements, such as overdubbed samples allowing the trio to paint on an even wider canvas. Ultimately, Felder’s compositional and arranging skills are a perfect blend with the band’s power.
DUENDE LIBRE – THE DANCE SHE SPOKE (JAZZ): The third album from
Duende Libre, the brainchild of keyboardist Alex Chadsey, is a joyous blend of virtuosity and passion. Leadoff single “Hush (Dawn)” immediately grabs the listener with Chadsey’s piano, Farko Dosumov’s fleet-fingered electric bass playing and drummer Jeff “Bongo” Busch’s snare work. The trio combine musical touches from the Americas to make an appealing stew. Singer, multi-instrumentalist Chava Mirel is an additional presence on a few tracks, further expanding the breadth of the music. Additionally, long-time collaborator Frank Anderson contributes vocals with Mirel (check out “N’gri [Wassoulou]“) to add to the musical conversation. The Dance She Spoke is an innovative combination of West African rhythms and an American esthetic, which in the hands of Duende Libre, is worth the journey.
- Nosotros, “Mentiras” (2024): One Track Mind - April 10, 2024
- Nick Finzer, Christian Fabian, Rachel Z + Others: Five for the Road - April 5, 2024
- Terry Blade on ‘Ethos: Son of a Sharecropper’: Something Else! Interview - March 10, 2024
