THONK

This is the Michael Manring album to own. On this release he sheds the Windham Hill chains (although it was released on Windham Hill's subsidiary label, High Street), and plays some heavy jazz rock fusion. And he has some high powered musicians backing him up, most notably Steve Morse (The Dixie Dregs, Kansas, etc.).

Compositionally, Manring is good, but not great. But then, he had previously been creating music for people who aren't quite awake, so I guess he needs practise in that area. The songs are mostly written around his two-handed tap and slap style, similar to the way Stu Hamm plays. His fretless bass soloing sometimes gets close to the sound of Jaco Pastorius.

The bast tracks: Snakes Got Legs and Bad Hair Day.

Highly recommended for the bass fanatic.