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| Guitarist Allen Weber Making Jazz Fusion Accessible Sine the early 1970's when Miles Davis put out his album Bitch's Brew, John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu Orchestra released their hard fusion, Chick Corea released his jazz fusion saying the word "Jazz" makes most people shiver in fright. They have been afraid of the term "Jazz". Their eyes glaze over, and they think the music is "over their heads", "too sophisticated", "you can't dance to it". With the debut release by Allen Weber with his Hot Shock band their album entitled "Hot Shock" things change. Weber made a conscious effort to create jazz fusion songs with the early excitement, wild energy "jazz chords" of the early jazz fusion masters, while maintaining a dance sensibility with easy to sing melodies, and heavy groove style bass and drums. "The music on this album fits my goal of having something that musicians can enjoy for the sophistication and playing ability, and the general public can enjoy for the beat and melody", Weber said. When asked to describe his music further he said "You could describe Hot Shock music this way: Jazz Fusion infused with Latin, Carribeo, Funk, Blues, R & B and Rock ... You could almost say it is World Jazz Fusion… I call our style of music: Sandunga Jazz Fusion meaning Groove with Energy!" The album was recorded at the legendary Jacksonville recording studio Warehouse Studios where a veritable who's who have recorded including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yellow Card, Classics IV, Limp Biscuit, and Black Kids among others. It was mixed and mastered at TrueTone Studios whose clients include: T-Pain (Nappy Boy Records); Young Cash (Universal Records); Molly Hatchet (Sony Records); and Walter Williams (Of The O'Jays) among others. Weber's Hot Shock band for the recording consisted of Guitar: Weber; Keyboards: Mike Noble; Bass: John Baker; Drums: Frank Basile. Weber and Noble added a touch of vocals to a couple of tracks. Weber, – who like a lot of artists whose name is on their band, is the artist and uses "hired guns" for recording and performances – has been playing guitar and writing music since 1969 cites influences for his Sandunga Jazz Fusion music as: Joe Zawinul; Weather Report; Ramsey Lewis; Chick Corea and Return to Forever; Jeff Beck; Arturo Sandoval; Julian "Cannonball" Adderley; Crusaders; John McLaughlin; and Carlos Santana (when he was playing jazz fusion in the late 70's). The cd is currently available at CD Baby Search for Allen Weber Hot Shock at iTunes, Amazon.com, Spotify, Last.fm, Google Music Store and others. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |