CHAD WACKERMAN

Wackerman here is developing his own style. Where his first album sounded mostly like a Holdsworth album, this time the tracks are more rhythmically centered, with Wackerman's exceptional drums more in the forefront. The songs are more melodic, and easier to follow, and the addition of Fowler's horns add some depth.

For Zappa fans, the track All Sevens has a rhythm and solo section that sounds very much like The Purple Lagoon. It also adds to that feeling when Fowler plays his solo on a harmonized horn (as Randy Brecker did on "Zappa In New York").

If you are expecting Zappa-like music from this long time veteran of Frank's touring band, you may not like this. If you are looking for excellent drumming and top notch fusion, you should be quite happy. On this, Wackerman's first solo album, he enlisted Allan Holdsworth, with whom he has appeared on more than a few releases, as well as Holdsworth's bassist, Jimmy Johnson, plus a keyboardist named Jim Cox. Not surprisingly, the album sounds very much like a Holdsworth album. In fact, the majority of songs, even the ones that Holdsworth is not one of the credited composers, sound very much like Holdsworth tunes.

Being a big Holdsworth fan, I love the album. Aside from that, there are a few songs where Wackerman obviously composed the pieces around his drum riffs, to a nice effect. Fearless, which has a bit of a similar feel as Bruford's Five Percent For Nothing, and Waltzing On Jupiter both fall into this category.

This is an excellent piece of fine fusion for Holdsworth fans and more.