LIVE AT LOCAL 506

This North Carolina-based fusion group consisted of excellent musicians on every instrument: bassist Wayne Leechford on chapman stick, Francis Dyer on drums, Hollis Brown on electric violin, and Jeremy Shaw on guitar. (No vocals.)

Similar to (but not quite as Crimson-esque as) Boud Deun, Ozone Quartet hit a home run with their debut album "Fresh Blood", then followed it right up with their other fine studio album "Nocturne". And while that album showed some maturing and progress in their playing and composition skills, "Live at Local 506" is your best value from this fine group.

Recorded during their tour following "Nocturne", "Live.." consisted of 5 songs each from both studio albums, and you can really see how the group had become even tighter and more polished. It's amazing how they could rip through these complex songs live on stage!

Great production and nice balance between the instruments contribute to the excellent playing of some very energetic compositions. My only gripe is that the songs, though good, can tend to sound a bit similar after awhile; I personally could have used more slower- paced songs and perhaps some different instrumentation here and there.

Unfortunately, I think the group has disbanded, so good luck picking these cd's up. Their website may still sell all of their cd's.

If you're into instrumental prog fusion, you should seek them out.

Ozone Quartet reformed last year after a three year hiatus and one of their first tasks was to release this recording which was made at one of their last gigs in 2000. Ozone Quartet are a prog rock/jazz fusion act with an unusual line-up from North Carolina. On drums is Fran Dyer who can sometimes find himself on his own when providing stability, as Wayne Leechford plays Chapman Stick, which he can use a melody instrument in its' own right. Jeremy Shaw provides the rock muscle with electric guitar while Hollis Brown fights off all comers to take centre stage on electric violin.

This is a band that played many gigs together, as well as recording two albums, and they are all aware of what each person is doing onstage. Some of the interplay particularly between Hollis and Jeremy is quite breathtaking, while the others prove that they are no slouches either. This is music that is played and lived at pace, with each one willing to go up front or stay just behind as the mood and style demands. It is music that is intense and deserves to have a lot of attention paid to it ? this is not music that can be played in the background. This is jazz with balls that can be threatening when it is needed, or full of fusion and smoothness so that progheads will enjoy this as much as the jazz buff.

Originally appeared in Feedback #78, April 2004