Reviewed by Vaibhav Thomas
The magically unique hallmark of jazz music is its ability to fill up the sound frequency spectrum in the most fulfilling way – no matter the number of instruments – while simultaneously, unlike any other genre, affording the performer(s) a superlative bulk of freedom of expression and interaction that makes the timbre seem so nearly human. As Chris Griffin so spectacularly puts forth, “Jazz is like a great void, it waits patiently until a brave musician takes control of space and time”. And what signifies ‘brave’ in this case? It can mean the ability and tenacity to experiment with different sounds and fuse genres, or to be able to fearlessly and craftily improvise so as to fill up the environment with sonic storytelling so as to transport the listener into an altogether different realm with the message the arrangement and licks convey. These, and so much, are effortlessly fulfilled in Billboard chart-topping composer Peter Xifaras’s latest album, titled ‘Fusion’.
Recorded during the pandemic, the aptly-named ‘Fusion’ is a collective of 7 tracks – each more different than the next – performed using six instruments: the trumpet, the violin, the drum, the guitar, the keyboard, and the bass, in the realm of contemporary jazz but with the incorporation of non-traditional jazz elements across its various tracks such as hip-hop, drum-and-bass, and even a classical string ensemble. And the sublime aspect of the album is that this fusion of elements has been undertaken with purpose and not just for the sake of it, and has been executed with aplomb – aptly portraying the title of the respective track, and transporting the listener into its own space.
The opening number, wonderfully named ‘Chaos’, is tonally centered in B, incorporates bebop, and serves as an excellent demonstration of each performer’s capabilities, right from the trumpet gloriously toying with muted textures down to the bass belting out a fiery solo, characterized by brass ensemble crescendos.
‘Shunzo’, named after the ensemble’s trumpet Shunzo Ohno, hits it off with an intensely virtuosic and free-flowingly chromatic lick by Ohno on the trumpet, right before the theme is established upon D, over a groove that is part pop and part drum-and-bass, with the sparkle provided by Xander Nichting courtesy a scintillating violin solo of his own as well, punctuated by the punchy bass sound upon each downbeat, coupled with the piano’s colorful voicings.
‘Wild and Free’, written in G, features a hint of bossa-nova and oversees the keys shine and belt out a free-flowingly intimate pentatonic scale-based lick, with the delay effect accentuating the said intimacy very well, over the 1-5-1 bass pattern, as well as a return of the brass ensemble crescendos, heard in ‘Chaos’.
‘B Blues’, centered upon the C-blues scale, has all the makings of a contemporary virtuosic standard that shows immense bravery at amalgamating the ensemble with ambient textures in creative order, with hip hop and swing brilliantly incorporated in the most effortless of fashions, featuring scintillating conversations yet again between the trumpet and the electric violin, and atonal clashes in the lower-frequency spectrum between the bass and the piano which works like a tenacious charm, in addition to the very contemporary sounding guitar solo interspersed with smoothly rapid blues runs upon the bass.
‘Think Quick’, centered around E, features a midtempo pop groove, characterized by minor seventh chords upon the piano, with both the violin and trumpet effortlessly oscillating between the pentatonic and the chromatic, across chord modulations from E to C, and back, and yet more smoothly done solos upon the electric guitar and the bass respectively.
‘While My Guitar Weeps For Mehdi Rajabian’ is an album standout in every sense, in the fact that it is the one track, majorly placed within the classical realm, that places emphasis upon the pathos via the string orchestra (superbly performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra), in order to shed light upon the story, bravery, and plight of Mehdi Rajabian, imprisoned for the crime of making music. The piece starts off as a classical piece with the strings dominating proceedings initially, with the electric guitar improvising in tandem with the strings, before taking over and transforming the song into a power ballad with a downtempo groove with major communication between the piano and the guitar in the realm of A minor, before the strings return as part of the rousing climax.
At an approximate duration of 31+ minutes, ‘Fusion’ is a winner in every right, with track after track exuding its aura in ways more creative and different than the previous, while conveying a story across fused realms, marked by superlatively wonderful arrangements and renditions. It is an album bound to bring the listener back, and a tremendous addition to the contemporary jazz repertoire.
The album is available on all major streaming & download sites as well as on the artist’s web site at https://peterxifaras.com.
Peter Xifaras
Renowned for his prowess as a guitarist, composer, and producer, Peter Xifaras has masterfully navigated the realm of musical genres, earning widespread acclaim. His versatility is striking; whether crafting compositions for symphonic orchestras or delivering impassioned guitar solos, Peter is at ease. With his music resonating across hundreds of radio stations and enjoying over a decade of rotation on SiriusXM, his impact is undeniable. A recipient of multiple awards, Peter's musical achievements have crowned the summits of Billboard's Classical and Crossover charts. Notably, he clinched a TELLY award for his impactful social justice release, 'Children Of Conflict'.
Peter's compositions, marked by their genre-defying nature, have magnetized a diverse array of accomplished guest artists who frequently enrich his releases, including collaborations on his symphoneX Orchestra® project. A testament to his boundless creativity, Peter recently collaborated with the legendary jazz-trumpeter Shunzo Ohno on "Fusion'. Not content with one sphere, he has also orchestrated two classical works, magnificently performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and is currently engrossed in crafting a concerto for classical guitar. Simultaneously, he is poised to score the next feature-film production by JawDoc Productions.
For an experience that seamlessly merges the contemporary with the cinematic, delve into the world of Symphony-X.com and discover Peter Xifaras' captivating creations For more information on Peter Xifaras and the guest on this album, please visit Peter's website.
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