jazz

REVIEW: Thomas Polychuck – Thomas Polychuck (2024)

THOMAS POLYCHUCK – Thomas Polychuck (2024 Deko)

Out of the gates, Thomas Polychuck’s new instrumental solo album impresses.  With former Dream Theater keyboard player Derek Sherinian on almost every track, the direction is instrumental progressive rock.  Derek has plenty of room to shine, frequently playing off with the guitar and providing loads of those vintage Dream Theater hooks.

The opener “Genèse” commences the album very much like the familiar bands we love so much, with big guitars.  It then goes on its own fun tangents.  This fascinating track has guitar melodies and a really cool interlude with flute sounds.  Anyone who enjoys instrumental guitar rock will dig this track.  Sherinian adds loads of texture on keys.

Simon Phillips gets things going on “The Cyclone” with a cool tribal sounding drum intro.  Then Polychuck and Sherinian get jamming on a funky little groove, incorporating jazz, shredding, and rock riffing.  You can hear things reminiscent of Richie Kotzen’s solo work in the notes.  Derek and Thomas sound like they’re having a blast soloing with each other.  It sounds very live, however they achieved it.

Polychuck goes full jazz on “Dieze11”, a lovely piece with soft guitar and piano.  The soft drums are a nice change of pace, and the busy bassline has room to breathe.  The main feature is the guitar, which lingers nowhere for very long, before darting off in another direction.  The result is that it feels like the guitar is telling a little story.

Back to the shred, “1316” breaks off at a speedy pace, like a metal rocket fuelled by guitar.  Derek continues to complement the music with keyboard textures that explore different sounds and voices.  Though the guitars are cranked up, you can still hear jazz note choices in the solos.  Then, suddenly it breaks into a Rush-like groove from the mid-80s.

“Construct” gets even heavier, but fortunately Polychuck has the wisdom to lay down a more melodic guitar line overtop the heavy chords.  Between the guitar and keyboards, there are a lot of tasty bits here to grab on to.  “They Carry On” is another jazz number with upright bass by Maciek.  Picture a smoky jazz club at night.  Not too loud, and totally authentic.  Polychuck allows the bass to have its moment.   It is followed by the awesome “Reality”, an anthemic guitar number with some very nice melodic elements.

The unexpected ballad “Sign From Beyond the Veil” is the most beautiful track on the album.  With subtle organ by Chris Madden, Polychuck’s guitar sings softly of hopeful feelings.  A very uplifting track, with a vibe like classic Joe Satriani.  Soft though it may be, there are a lot of interesting guitar sounds going on.

The final track is a driver called “Retold Story” featuring Brian Tichy on drums.  The drums kick on this one, and Polychuck goes once again for a storytelling guitar style.  He goes from fast to slow, mood to mood, never staying too long in one place, but always offering interesting sounds and licks.

Having heard Polychuck’s earlier music, with influences across the board from pop to dance to metal, and now here with hardcore progressive rock and authentic jazz, one wonders where he can go next?  Classical, country, blues?  The sky is the limit for this talented musician.  This album would be cherished by lovers of musicianship, and those moments when progressive rock meets jazz.  An unexpected treat to finish 2024 with a flourish.

4/5 stars

The Jex Russell Show on Grab A Stack of Rock! CDs Galore! With John Snow, Aaron KMA, and Metal Roger

Get well soon, Harrison!  The Mad Metal Man was unable to co-host tonight’s show with Jex Russell, so what did Jex do?  He grabbed the bull by the horns, the guitar by the neck, and the stack of rock by the stones!  It was the historic first-ever episode of Grab A Stack of Rock with Mike and the Mad Metal Man…without Mike, or the Mad Metal Man.

Jex, you dapper handsome movie star.  I admit, I had it coming.  It was not unearned.  But vengeance shall be mine. ;)

On with the show:  Dressed to the nines, Jex pulled out all the stops tonight.  Tonight’s musical physical media included:

Jex with buying tips, some psychedelic rock,  Hard Rock Gold, Over 60 Minutes With…, some Vital Idol, Deep Purple, DEVO, Pat Benatar, Ten Years After, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Squier, and Motley Crue ’94!

Jazz, soul & blues provided by Aaron “Mr. Books” of the KMA with: Tobin Sprout (only 1000 made), GBV, Hilliard Ensemble, John Lee Hooker, Prince, Ry Cooder, Simply Red, Gojira, Matt Costa, Oscar Peterson, Rheostatics, Kurt Vile, Live at Leeds, a live album in Toronto, the sound of Starbucks, Phil Collins, Blues Brothers, Hootie, Debussy, Yo-Yo Ma, Hans Zimmer, and dad memes.  Sadly no opera and “y’all-ternative country” (with apologies).

John T. Snow from The Collection brought on the hard rock side of things.  We had his early thoughts on the new Ace Frehley 10,000 Volts (red transparent vinyl and lentincular cover CD), KISS final show merch and memorabilia, new Collective Soul 8-track (!!), a Canadian gift from Aaron, and new Jeff Scott Soto.

Metal Roger on marital harmony, comedy relief, heavy metal and screamo.  He brought some Metallica, Death Cab, Papa Roach, Queen, Guns N’ Roses, and books!

Thank you guys for doing the show and giving me a night to just watch and enjoy.  I’ll be back Monday with Tim Durling for a special episode on the complete Journey discography!

 

 

A LeBrainless Panel with New Arrivals, Jazz, Hard Rock and Metal on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Episode 52:  Jex, Aaron, John and Metal Roger!

First order of business:  Get well soon, Harrison!  The Mad Metal Man is unable to co-host tonight’s episode, so filling in for him will be Jex Russell.

I don’t know precisely what the guys will be showing off, but new arrivals are guaranteed!  We will see Kiss, Metallica, Billy Idol, The Who, Chuck Berry and a whole whack of fresh jazz from Mr. Books.

The panel tonight:

  • Hosted by: Jex Russell from Jex’s Vinyl World
  • Jazz provided by Aaron “Mr. Books” of the KMA
  • John T. Snow from The Collection on the hard rock side of things
  • And Metal Roger on comedy relief and heavy metal

Historically speaking, this is the first ever episode of Grab A Stack of Rock with Mike and the Mad Metal Man, without Mike or the Mad Metal Man.  But fear not, Mike will be back on Monday with Tim Durling for a very special Journey episode for Jon Cain’s birthday!

Friday Feb 23 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 9:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube, or Twitter!!  (Facebook has been problematic of late.)

REVIEW: Pat Metheny – Bright Size Life (1976)

PAT METHENY – Bright Size Life (1976 ECM)

The eight tracks that make up Pat Metheny’s debut album Bright Size Life are exactly what I was looking for.  They hit the spot.

One Saturday afternoon in the summer I was enjoying instrumental jazz on the front porch.  I wanted more, and was recommended Bright Size Life by jazz enthusiast Robert Lawson.  The presence of the legendary Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass made me more intrigued.

From the very start of the title track, we’re treated to smooth, rich guitar tones and melodies.  Drift back, but not too far, because the lyrical basswork of Jaco deserves your full attention.  From harmonics to chord bending, his basswork is thick with technique.  Little waterfalls of notes splashing here and there.  Though sometimes fast and unpredictable, it always settles back into the groove of the song.  Meanwhile, Bob Moses on drums paints a picture with cymbals.

Bright Size Life is warm but sparse, featuring a basic jazz trio with Metheny playing both six and twelve string guitars.  His fingers dance a dance of tone and texture.  The melodies he plucks are challenging with unexpected notes and runs dotting the landscape.  The drums are often light and the cymbals bright.  Jaco’s bass is usually telling its own story.

You can hear the influence on instrumentalists since.  The guitar is the main focus, and it is always delivering interesting melodies to and fro, rarely repeating but always exploring.  It’s a clean, clear sound with richness and natural depth.  On some tracks, Metheny plays it slow and relaxed, on others like “Missouri Uncompromised”, it’s a race with Pastorius and Moses neck-and-neck.  Yes even so, an unexpected melody darts in here and there, keeping you on your toes.  Speed is employed effectively but not exhaustingly.

Top track:  “Midwestern Nights Dream”, a suitably noctunral beauty with smoke and atmosphere.  A Jaco bass melody dominates the second half to delicious effect.

5/5 stars

REVIEW: Lego Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (1606 Pieces)

LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (2022)

$130 Canadian (18+)

It took me two leisurely days to assemble this kit.   I must be getting better at this, or this kit isn’t as hard as some of the Speed Champions car kits (9+).   It consists of four classic era jazz musicians, assembled in four stages from smallest to largest.

Each musician is built in conjunction with his or her base.  The bases were fun in their own right, recalling classic childhood Lego building experiences of the 70’s.  The trumpet player was first, a splindly and fragile figure that you’ll want to pose correctly and leave alone.  His red tie, slightly askew between his suspenders, is really cool.  Each of the three male musicians has a unique tie.

The upright bassist is second.  His deep brown instrument has a real Lego string piece for added effect.  The bass itself looks really cool, while the player is skinny and delicate.  His bowtie is made from a Lego video game controller.

The drum kit was one of the most fun steps.  The bass drum building technique features studs on five sides.  There are no stickers, only printed graphics on the sides.  The snare drum, two toms, and floor tom are all slightly unique from each other.  Likewise the crash, hi-hat and ride cymbals.   They come in a shimmery golden colour, but if you like gold, you’ll love the pianist!   Meanwhile, the drummer has a beard and hat, and an undone bowtie.  His stool is actually built upside down.  Very cool design.

Check out the drum kit below, as it is assembled.

The piano player has a lovely orange dress that was fun to build.  Her gold earrings are old-fashioned chromed design, the same as the One Ring from the recent Rivendell set.  Her piano was one of the most complex sections.  It is very curvy, with shapes that would have been impossible without these newer rounded Lego plates.  For authenticity, inside there are 31 little pieces assembled in a row that resemble that piano’s hammers.  The keys themselves are very nice prints.  There are pedals, and the top can be opened up for you to admire the details inside.

The full stage (including stylin’ looking front steps) measure almost three feet in width.  It’s huge, but fits exactly the space of our old VCR in the entertainment stand.  Fear not though — each musician’s stand / stage section is removable, and you can display them any way you like, even on separate shelves.  They certainly look best all together in the order designed.  My bassist’s head is slightly tilted towards the drums so he can hear them clearly.  The pianist is gesturing to her band, conducting their jam session.  The little posability you get is often limited to shoulders and elbows when you get any at all.  All four musicians have ball-jointed necks.

This is a fragile set and not for play.  Be careful dusting!  But have fun building.

4.5/5 stars

#1065: Even the Best Weekends Can Turn to Crap

RECORD STORE TALES #1065: Even the Best Weekends Can Turn to Crap

It started great!

Thursday night, the music on the trip up to the lake was amazing. We began with The Cult’s Fire Woman EP, and moved on to Michigan Left by the Arkells.  Jen fell asleep in the car and I was left to sing along by myself.  Never a problem!

We came packed with lots of Lego, and plenty of new music to unbox live on Grab A Stack of Rock.  We arrived with coffee, treats and tunes!  Immediately I set up on the front porch and started playing mellow music.  Jim Cuddy’s All In Time is one of the best cottage front porch albums for dancing that I have ever heard.  From rockers to tear-jerking ballads, what an album!  I used to consider it “just a Blue Rodeo album without Greg” but it’s actually far more than that.  Articulating it is hard, but the album evoked emotions and dance moves that Blue Rodeo didn’t.  We also played some of Alice Cooper’s more emotional, cinematic tunes that night.  It was a magical start.

Friday was a wonderful day!  I commenced with some more porch music, and then we hit The Beef Way for our weekend meat!  We chose two T-bone steaks, a turkey breast fillet (for Jen) and a beautiful duck breast (for me).  It was my first duck breast.  I seasoned heavily with salt, pepper and garlic powder to offset that gamey taste.  I scored the fat, cooked it skin side down in a frying pan for 10 minutes to get it cripsy, and finished it in the BBQ.  When finished, you could have mistaken it for steak, it was that good.  The skin was the best part, and I’ll get duck breast from The Beef Way again.  Just an awesome lunch!

Of course, Friday night was Grab A Stack of Rock, and an excellent show was had, almost two hours long!  Grab A Stack really did rock this time!  Lots of new music revealed, to be reviewed in the coming weeks/months, including Journey Through Time.

First thing Saturday morning, I taped an excellent Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, reviewing the new Def Leppard Drastic Symphonies.  I cannot wait until this airs!  Although we were both kind but critical, I’m sure the Fanboy trolls will be out when it’s released on YouTube.  I will of course be posting it here for ease of viewing.  It was possibly my favourite Tim’s Vinyl Confessions that I’ve been involved with to date!

We did “Jazz Saturday” morning with Herbie Hancock’s Quartet.  By recommendation of Robert Lawson, next Jazz Saturday will be to Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life.  It’s ordered and on its way.  Then we switched to the back yard, and built Lego all afternoon.  We are both enjoying the Lego “Speed Champions” series of licensed car models.  They are all roughly the same scale and although they are similar in design, very few of them use the exact same design techniques.  Jen also build a New York City skyline, while I finally finished my knockoff Titanic set.  I’ll never buy knockoff Lego again.  It looks cool complete, but it was very hard to build with confusing instructions and bags.  The final fitting pieces were not up to Lego’s standards.   It does look good, but never again.

It was Saturday evening that turned everything to shit.

I made the steaks, damn perfect if you asked me, and Jen proclaimed “I’m gonna eat the whole thing!”  I was already half full from snacking on chips so I knew I was keeping leftovers.  As she took a mid-meal break, Jen had a seizure.

The coffee spilled.  The Coke spilled.  I could stop neither because I was busy keeping her from falling off her chair.  Eventually I got her safely down, where she soaked herself in spilled coffee.  It took some work to get her into bed.  More seizures later that night.  She fell off the bed, and once again Mike managed to pull off a save.  I’ve lost track of the rest of the seizures that night but we figured it was four or five total.  Not the most restful night, and I was completely exhausted from cleaning up the spills.  I went to bed early and slept in late.  Not the way I usually do things at the cottage.  I like to stay up late and enjoy the creatures of the night.  That didn’t happen this weekend.

I came home Sunday completely exhausted and Jen slept the entire way.  Music on the way home was also mellow:  Ward One: Along the Way and When the Bough Breaks by Bill Ward.  Really good and felt appropriate to my mood.

We will have more Lego to build next time.  My Jazz Quartet set looks challenging and interesting.  Hopefully the next trip will be less eventful!

 

 

Robert Lawson & the School of Jazz – Saturday LeBrain Train

Tremendous fun and a lot of learning tonight in the School of Jazz!  Author Robert Lawson has a jazz collection to die for and we got a small taste of it tonight.  The panel for Saturday Jazz consisted of four experts and one newbie:

  • Yours truly (LeBrain – jazz novice)
  • Uncle Meat (jazz expert)
  • Dr. Dave (an actual doctor)
  • Aaron (Keeps Me Alive resident jazzbo)
  • Robert Lawson (serious author and hardcore jazz collector)

As the talk veered from Miles Davis to Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus and more, my wishlist grew and grew and grew.  Stay tuned to the end to see some of Robert’s most enviable box sets.

As we often do, we started the show with some unboxings.  Check it all out below!  See you next week.

Upcoming schedule:

Friday March 11 – The 10 Year Anniversary Show – Record Store Tales and mikeladano.com (with Harrison and Tim Durling)

Friday March 25 – 2 Years of the LeBrain Train (with Tee Bone and Robert Daniels)

Friday April 1 – The Prank Show (With Chris Thuss and Michael Morwood)

Saturday Jazz featuring Robert Lawson on a special LeBrain Train

The LeBrain Train: 2000 Words or More with Mike & Friends

Episode 100 – Saturday Jazz

 

When a guy with the musical intelligence and credentials of author Robert Lawson asks if he can participate in your Saturday jazz show, you say yes!

Much like Donnie in The Big Lebowski, I’m out of my element here.  A casual jazz fan like me cannot compete with the knowledge of the guests this week.  It’s a Cinco de Listo Top Five Jazz records and the panel consists of:

  • Yours truly (LeBrain – jazz novice)
  • Uncle Meat (jazz expert)
  • Dr. Dave (an actual doctor)
  • Aaron (Keeps Me Alive resident jazzbo)
  • Robert Lawson (serious author and hardcore jazz collector)

Saturday March 5, 7:00 PM E.S.T. on YouTube, Facebook and also Facebook!

Upcoming schedule:

Friday March 11 – The 10 Year Anniversary Show – Record Store Tales and mikeladano.com (with Harrison and Tim Durling)

Friday March 25 – 2 Years of the LeBrain Train (with Tee Bone)

 

REVIEW: Lee Aaron – Radio Hitz and More… (2012)

LEE AARON – Radio Hitz and More… (2012)

Respect to Lee Aaron!  She’s persisted through the decades with a multi-faceted career, including her early metal roots.  What she really needed was some kind of compilation CD that captured it all.  1992’s Powerline is a good compilation but some of Lee’s most interesting work came after.  Radio Hitz and More… fills in some of the blanks from the past 20 years.  You can only get it via Lee’s website as a promotional item.  I bought a T-shirt and got the CD with it, signed and personalized.*

Even if it haunted her career at times, “Metal Queen” is a damn fine song.  Period, end of sentence.  Today we can see that “Metal Queen” had it all:  killer quintessential riff, howling vocals and a searing solo.  Few metal singers could touch Lee Aaron’s ability.  While the fans knew she could do more than metal, she absolutely owned it on “Metal Queen”.  Hail to the queen.

Lee eventually shifted into a hard rock mold.  “Whatcha Do to My Body” was a big hit, and it’s next in radio edit form.  It delivered big hooks and didn’t require any song doctors.  Lee Aaron and her longtime guitarist John Albini wrote it and were rewarded with loads of MuchMusic video play.  However the two did collaborate with an outside writer on “Powerline” (1987) and that outside writer was surprisingly former Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner.  “Powerline” is a bit light and heavily reliant on keyboards, sounding a little like Heart.

The songs included from Lee’s “rock” period are all pretty much hits in Canada.  “Hands On” followed “Watcha Do to My Body” in regular video rotation.  “Sweet Talk” and “Sex With Love” were singles from another big Lee Aaron album, Some Girls Do (1991).  The title track “Some Girls Do” is here and very Van Halen.  Two of Lee’s most stunning ballads are included too.  “Barely Holdin’ On” could be her best song, period.  “Only Human” was from the 1987 pop rock era, but is a strong ballad regardless.  Only a few notable singles are missing.  The always likeable Disco-dis “Shake it Up” is too hard to find out there in the wild.  Another big ballad, “Peace on Earth” is missing in action.  However the space does not go to waste.

In 1996 Lee Aaron resurfaced with a new band called 2preciious.  The lineup included Lee and the three Dons from Sons of Freedom!  A strange combo to be sure, and the alternative-flavoured album they came out with didn’t make waves, though it got decent reviews.  “Mascara” is edgy acoustic rock, completely unlike Lee’s previous work.  There’s even a rare European-only track called “Concrete and Ice” which is a bass-heavy 90s groove rocker.  Great stuff; it’s unfortunate it didn’t gain traction,  because with Alanis Morissette being so big at the same time, perhaps Lee could have tagged along.

The next stage of Lee Aaron’s career was her entry into the jazz world.  2000 saw the release of her album Slick Chick, and in 2004 there was Beautiful Things.  Tracks from both are here, including the instantly likeable “I’d Love To”.  It’s a little jarring to hear “Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi” in the middle of a bunch of rock tracks, though.

This compilation is great for gathering together a bunch of Lee Aaron’s diverse hits, but that’s not all.  Track 18 is a little bonus for collectors.  From Sweden Rock, it’s killer track “Baby Go Round” originally from Emotional Rain.  This live version is available nowhere else, which is like catnip for collectors.

77 minutes of music, for free?  How do you spell N-O-B-R-A-I-N-E-R?

4/5 stars

*If ordering, check before assuming they still offer signed CDs.

 

 

 

REVIEW: Rik Emmett & RESolution9 – RES 9 (2016)

Had I got it in time, this album could have made the Top Five of 2016 list.

scan_20161231RIK EMMETT & RESolution9 – RES 9 (2016 Mascot Music)

Rik Emmett had a long productive career as 1/3rd of Triumph, but he has rarely looked back.   Post-Triumph he has released a steady stream of jazz, rock, blues and acoustic music, sometimes revisiting Triumph songs in re-arranged form.  Finally the ice thawed and Triumph successfully conquered Sweden Rock.  In 2016 Rik released RES 9, a new rock album with his new band RESolution 9.

RES 9 is in fact a time machine.  Dial up track 1.  You will be transported back to 1990 with the rock boogie of “Stand Still”.  This is a spiritual sequel to “Drive Time” from Rik’s first solo album Absolutely.  Then punch track 2.  “Human Race” (not a Red Rider cover) could have been a single from 1986’s The Sport of Kings.  With Alex Lifeson guesting on guitar, Rik and the band tapped into the hookiness of 80’s Triumph, but with a modern integrity.  When you hit up track 3, you will find yourself in the future.  Accompanied by fellow Canadian James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Rik turns in a modern rock anthem with “I Sing”.  Big and uplifting choruses preceded by mellow verses are built for radio.  LaBrie’s vocals are the perfect compliment.  Without a shred of hyperbole, “I Sing” is absolutely one of the best songs Rik’s ever recorded.

The bluesy soul ballad “My Cathedral” gives Rik a chance to show off his impeccable chops.  His tone — unbelievable!  Moving on to “The Ghost of Shadow Town” effectively dials up 1976 in the time machine, with a dark heavy Zepp-ish blues.  “When You Were My Baby” continues down smoove blues street, throwing in some jazz licks.  “Sweet Tooth” is turn down a brightly lit side avenue, a sweet treat indeed.

A hard Triumph-like vibe permeates “Heads Up”, another fine hard rocker for the radio.  “Rest of My Life” adds the jangle of acoustic guitars to the rock and roll mixture, creating another fine concoction just begging to be a hit.  Things toughen up with the pure rock power of “End of the Line”, featuring the returns of LaBrie and Lifeson.  The sheer star power of all these Canucks in one studio must have driven the temperatures well below freezing.  Still the track smokes, and if you’ve ever wanted to hear Emmett and Lifeson go head to head, then wish no more.

But it is not the end of the line.  Back to the future, we have a bonafide Triumph reunion featuring the full trio of Emmett, Gil Moore and Mike Levine.  This long awaited reunion happens on the bonus track “Grand Parade”.  The genuine surprise here is that it’s not a hard old time hard rocker, but a thoughtful and musically deep blues ballad.  It strikes me as appropriate that this much anticipated track sounds nothing like old Triumph.  That was, after all, a long time ago.

With RES 9, Rik has re-established his rock credentials.  Whether he does another album like this is beside the point.  RES 9 is the point; a damn fine album indeed.

4.5/5 stars