Marc Johnson - The Sound Of Summer Running
Jazz Fusion | EAC (FLAC + CUE + LOG) | no Artwork | 288 Mb
Publisher: Polygram Records | Verve 539 299-2 | 1998
With THE SOUND OF SUMMER RUNNING, bassist Marc Johnson has assembled a landmark quartet of such magnitude as to rival his legendary Bass Desires group of the mid '80s. Returning from that group is crafty guitar pioneer Bill Frisell. The two new additions are contemporary jazz guitar master Pat Metheny and the always adventurous percussionist Joey Baron. This list of musicians constitutes a "dream band" if there everwas one. Metheny and Frisell are locked in a beautiful dance as their signature sounds bob and weave around Johnson's deep foundation. Baron's stark percussive stabs and shimmering colours add just the right turmoil to the mix.
The music is nothing short of mesmerising in it's exploration of tonal colours and depth of creativity. The breezy freshness of "Faith In You" sets the tone, as the two guitarists alternately fly and support each other. A myriad of directions are explored from here: western-flavoured folk ("Ghost Town", "With My Boots On"), a bluesy Chicago shuffle ("Union Pacific"), a sleepy mid-western groove ("Porch Swing") and colourful avant-garde explorations ("The Adventures Of Max And Ben"). Fans of Metheny's ECM days will enjoy the soaring "Summer Running". All of this with the quirky slant you would expect from this cast of magical sound-smiths.
Produced by Lee Townsend
Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City
Personnel:
Marc Johnson: Bass
Joey Baron: Drums, Tambourine
Bill Frisell: Electric and acoustic guitars
Pat Metheny: Electric and acoustic guitars, 42-string Pikasso guitar
Track list:
1. Faith In You 5:53
2. Ghost Town 5:35
3. Summer Running 5:55
4. With My Boots On 4:24
5. Union Pacific 5:29
6. Porch Swing 4:11
7. Dingy-Dong Day 3:51
8. The Adventures Of Max And Ben 6:07
9. In A Quiet Place 5:17
10. For A Thousand Years 6:28