As We Speak

It was about this time in his career that one sensed David Sanborn was getting a bit tired of the formula he was using on his records. However, his great popularity kept him from changing direction much. As usual, the highly influential altoist blows his heart out over a lot of funky rhythms on As We Speak, but surprisingly, he switches to his less notable soprano on four of the nine tunes. Bassist Marcus Miller is a key force in the background, leading the expanded rhythm sections through some pop-oriented material that is appealing but not too substantial.

Atmospheric and serpentine, the two-disc As We Speak finds electric fretless bassist Mark Egan leading his trio through a series of enigmatic and propulsive original songs. An acolyte of the late great bassist Jaco Pastorious, Egan has a lithe touch on his instrument, and tracks such as the leadoff "Spirals" evince a hypnotic, fusion-esque aesthetic. Joining Egan here are the equally superb jazz giants guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Danny Gottlieb. These are three technical dynamos as well as artists sensitive to creative group interplay.

It was about this time in his career that one sensed David Sanborn was getting a bit tired of the formula he was using on his records. However, his great popularity kept him from changing direction much. As usual, the highly influential altoist blows his heart out over a lot of funky rhythms on As We Speak, but surprisingly, he switches to his less notable soprano on four of the nine tunes. Bassist Marcus Miller is a key force in the background, leading the expanded rhythm sections through some pop-oriented material.

Formed in 2011 with Mathew Spivack and Chris Childness, the band had several line-up changes with Kody Little departure and Calvin Merseal joining the band in 2013. At that period, the band went into a productive writing period. Kody came back to solidify things even further. The band has to rely on many musicians to play the keyboards because they don't have a permanent keyboard player. They had a lot of songs to record (more than 3 hours). The first album "Time of Departure" was the first of a trilogy around the story of Alan Quill struggling artist in this modern society. They played at the Progtoberfest III in Chicago, the second album "As We Were" was just ready for that festival. The music of Amalgam Effect shows some nice interplay between guitar and flute with a solid rhythm section. The influences of Jethro Tull and Rush can be heard but in the distinctive own style of the band.