DR. HEE

My first TT album.Awesome and massive fusion band that make this type of music the most especial.I've rated 4 stars so easyly because this group it's solid and essential to any fusion lovers! My best songs:DR HEE it's the song that can explain album's soul, Henderson's guitar essence makes this cool parfum unique;OUTSKIRTS with Dutz wonderfull piano solo;TWILIGHT in NORTHRIDGE and The marvellous OMINOUS very weird song at first sound but that blows my mind when i listen to it a lot of time. 4.5/5 stars

The guitar-great Scott HENDERSON's second studio release with Fusion project TRIBAL TECH, most notably featuring here bassist Gary WILLIS and reedsman Bob SHEPPARD.

The title track is a solid opener, with steady, straight-ahead rhythm and excellent playing. The keyboards are spacious and add nice flourishes to the otherwise intense "Fusions" on top. Scott and Bob riff off exceptionally.

Dr. Hee continues along in various flavors and feelings. I much like the cool "Mango Prom", with continued excellence atop a near lounge feel (at least at its start). [See also the very lovely "Twilight in the North Ridge," headed off by Willis and featuring acoustic/classical soloings by Henderson.]

It should be noted here that this album has a really great, fairly natural flow. Even from the thoughtful, short "Solemn" to the boisterous lilt of "Salsa Lastra", a very fun, exotic-sounding song featuring the varied percussion of Steve HOUGHTON and acoustic piano by, I presume, Pat COIL. The other keyboardist present (Brad DUTZ) is apparently predominantly the "mallets" player, a wonderful (and rarer) feature to hear in the context of Fusion. A welcomed rarity, indeed. [Ya like Jazz? Ya like GARY BURTON QUARTET's Duster, the 1967 early Fusion classic? Well, ya should! Lol]

At the end of the album, we have the interludinal "The Rain", a quirky, near-Ambient synthy number that really does call to mind the randomness of an evening rain. Very enjoyable, even if they didn't find a way to tie it tightly to the album closer(?!). And "Ominous" it is. The closing track is (inversely) a tightly organized cacophony of what this band really has to offer (Maximalists, rejoice!). And with that, I can confidently say, at the front and back, they certainly tied this album with a nice (complex) bow. Definitely check it out. In case you missed my true feelings, I've bolded my favorite tracks. Enjoy!