Jazz fusion

Even though he’s much more comfortable writing about sporting events, guest reviewblogger Brian VanderBeek happily took Lisa’s seat at the Gallo Center for the Arts for Tuesday night’s concert by the Five Peace Band.

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If Miles Davis is the accepted father of fusion, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin are its wet nurses.
It was 40 years ago that Davis’ album “In A Silent Way” brought the electric approach to the merger of jazz and rock music, and he chose keyboardist Corea and guitarist McLaughlin to help with the birthing process.
On Tuesday night at the Gallo Center for the Arts, Corea and McLaughlin showed that the fusion cause is very much alive, a genre still very much worth nurturing.
Joined by saxophonist Kenny Garrett (himself a Davis band alum,) bassist Christian McBride and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta to form the Five Peace Band, Corea and McLaughlin brought the near-packed house to its feet seven times _ once by just walking on stage, the others at the end of each of the six compositions performed in the three-hour show.
Each of the six songs (setlist below) highlighted all the band members, but for the most part Corea played the role of quiet leader, laying down the initial themes before fading back into control mode _ always there to reel in the groove if needed. It wasn’t, since the whole performance was very much under control.
McLaughlin was similarly understated for most of the night. His guitar was low in the sometimes muddy mix (especially in the first set) but he still can embark on searing guitar riffs reminiscent of his days leading Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Garrett was a marvel, showing off lung capacity not seen in Modesto since the Tour of California riders hit the finish line at the Gallo Center last month (sports reference.) His soaring solos were awe-inspiring and moved the Gallo gathering to silence.
I didn’t get a chance to watch Colaiuta walk away, but he sounded like he had six arms and four legs. The veteran of dozens of studio bands, including much of Frank Zappa recordings, Colaiuta remains as powerful and athletic behind the drums as anyone right now in jazz, with the possible exception of Antonio Sanchez.
McBride, who at 37 has played and recorded with nearly everyone in jazz, is efficient on electric bass, but a marvel on the standup in both finger and bow techniques.
He, and the band, saved its best for the second set, highlighted by the new composition “Hymn to Andromeda.”
A piano trio ballad at base level, Andromeda winds and morphs into a 30-minute epic journey through the 40-year history of fusion. It starts with a very modern trio piece that could have come from modern piano master Brad Mehldau, then draws energy from the early Davis fusion masterpiece recordings with soaring solos from McLaughlin and Garrett before coming back to this galaxy.
It’s not too far-fetched to think that the Andromeda piece will be remembered as this band’s lasting contribution to the fusion lexicon.
One footnote. It took the Gallo Center for the Arts 18 months to bring a jazz band of this stature to Modesto. With the response the Five Peace Band received Tuesday night, it would be a crime if it took another year-and-a-half for a repeat appearance.

The Details:
Five Peace Band, Gallo Center for the Arts, March 24, 2009
Setlist: Raju (Corea/McLaughlin,) The Disguise (Corea,) New Blues, Old Bruise (McLaughlin,) set break, Senior C.S. (Corea,) Hymn to Andromeda (Corea/McLaughlin,) Dr. Jackyl (Jackie McLean.)