Lockdown hadn’t curbed Jeff Lorber’s record production workload much, but the time freed up from not touring handed him the opportunity to make another Jeff Lorber Fusion album. Space-Time is the latest and greatest from a keyboard wizard and one of the most enduring titans of crossover jazz.
After forty-five years, The Jeff Lorber Fusion name continues to carry a lot of cachet, especially among rare groove enthusiasts. Lorber understands there’s a lot to live up to whenever he undertakes making new JLF music, which is why his recent output in particular has been remarkably consistent. That continues with Space-Time.
The official membership of this group remains at three but saxophonist Andy Snitzer moved on and drummer Gary Novak’s de-facto membership becomes official. Jimmy Haslip, who has been a monster on bass for as long as Lorber has been one on keyboards, remains Lorber’s closest collaborator, anchoring down the low end and co-producing with the leader.
If you’ve been tracking L.A. session players and fusion jazz elites since the 70s or 80s, you can scan the credits and see that there’s no ageism practiced on Space-Time; everyone here brings decades of experience and know-how. As someone who grew up listening to these guys rip on records that became gateway drugs to mainstream jazz, it’s truly a treat for me to hear them still at peak performance and making music with craftsmanship.
It matters in the details of the music. “Space-Time” explodes out of the gate, getting right onto a busy, percolating rhythm and potent soloing from Lorber and Haslip’s old Yellowjackets bandmate saxophonist Bob Mintzer. “Back Room” keeps the good vibes going with no let-up; Haslip’s bubbling bass joins with Novak to forge an irresistible funk pulse. Lorber makes waves on acoustic piano and Mann’s horn arrangement add a brassy punch. That would be enough, but then Jackson’s tasty jazz guitar aside is tossed into the mix.
“Sun Princess” shows off Lorber’s melodic bent as he unobtrusively layers his keyboards and other instruments around each other. “Mind Reader” brings back Mintzer and another former Yellowjackets associate in guitar god Robben Ford on rhythm; Lorber and Mintzer engage in signature Lorber slinky unison lines.
For “Memorex,” Gerald Alright guests but not on his usual sax: his bass guitar forms a groove with Novak that’s so satisfying, working in perfect syncopation with Lorber’s lead lines.
It finally slows down (a bit) for “Louisiana” but doesn’t stop making at least a body part or two from swaying to the music. Lorber’s combination of piano, organ and what sounds like a Wurlitzer is the kind of grounded, Southern gospel goodness not so common from the newer smooth jazzers.
“Curiosity” and “Truth” are both just good foot-tapping tunes where that singular Lorber Rhodes is sharing the spotlight with piano and Mintzer on tenor sax amid Mann’s well-placed blasts of horns. “Chick” is a tribute to a very important influence in Lorber’s career, the just-passed Chick Corea. With Hubert Laws and his flute sharing the lead with Lorber, this takes us back to the Water Sign/Wizard Island days.
“Day One” is a swaying folk-based ballad, where Michael Landau adds a tasteful touch on both acoustic and electric guitar, while “Truth” has more of that Rhodes goodness amid Mann’s well-placed horn blasts.
Jeff Lorber gets back to work with his namesake fusion band and Space-Time doesn’t miss a beat…or a luscious lick or a great groove. It’s more of the same ol’ Jeff Lorber Fusion, and that’s just fine.
Space-Time is now out, from Shanachie Entertainment.
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