CD Live at the Baked Potato Vol. 2 (2001) - V.Colaiuta, G.Bissonette, D.Weckl, T.Brechtlein, S.Phillips, D.Gottlieb, J.Haslip, B.Fields, J.Babko, J.Earl, J.Richman u.a.
by Paula Edelstein
Live at the Baked Potato, Vol. 2
continues the jam session held by some of the West Coast's finest
musicians at the infamous Baked Potato in Hollywood, CA. Guitarist and
educator Jeff Richman
is the catalyst and mastermind at the center of this excellent
collection of fusion masters, having written two of the six compositions
and playing awesome guitar on all six tunes. Featured performers
include Dave Weckl on drums, the remarkable bass playing of Abraham Laboriel and Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Beal on trumpet, and Steve Tavaglione on soprano saxophone. Dynamite drumming by Vinnie Colaiuta fuels the fire on the opening track, "Kamaroon," while the ten-minute "Leap of Faith," written by Jeff Beal, features shades of cool jazz that allows listeners to just kick back and relax. Beal builds from one idea to the next in an unhurried improvisation that is melodic yet spontaneous. Richman's guitar stylings are prime and provide an electric tinge to Beal's cool jazz trumpeting. His wah-wah expressions are truly enjoyable. Overall, Live at the Baked Potato, Vol. 2 is replete with the same great playing that filled volume one.