Bringing together such hotshot musicians as drummer Dennis Chambers, bassist Jeff Berlin, guitarist Dave Fiuczynski, and keyboard player T Lavitz, Boston T Party is a funky, jazzy, & rockin' good time from start to finish. Featuring all original material written byT Lavitz and the band, the album is a treat for fusion fans and lets the band show their instrumental prowess and at the same time crank out some solid melodies.
"D'funk'd" starts off the set, and it's a cooker, complete with plenty of tasty electric piano, organ, and synths from Lavitz, muscular bass grooves courtesy of Berlin, and an assortment of whammy bar riffs from Fiuczynski. Mid-70's era Jeff Beck would be a good reference point on this track. Chambers and his slippery fills lead off the bluesy jazz of "(Great) Ball of Issues", a song that also features a great wah-wah/whammy bar frenzied guitar solo from Fiuczynski, along with plenty of keys from Lavitz. "Around About Way" is a furious fusion burner, allowing everyone room to solo, while "I Hate the Blues" gives Berlin a chance to carry the lead melody and show his monstrour chops. Other highlights include the complex ripper "Emotional Squalor", Berlin and Chambers tearing it up on the quick "Deff 184", the slow boil of "Last Train" (with some furious guitar solos from Fiuczynski) and the Miles Davis inspired fusion funk of both "Constant Comment" and "Foxy Morons".
Solid stuff all around is what you get with the boys of Boston T Party. While it would have been nice to hear Chambers rip it up a little more, the rest of the gang get in plenty of high spots, especially Lavitz and Fiuczynski. If you like modern day fusion with an aggressive edge, Boston T Party will be right up your alley.
Track Listing
1. D'funk'd
2. (Great) Ball Of Issues
3. Around About Way
4. I Hate The Blues...(But Here's One Anyway)
5. All Thought Out
6. Emotional Squalor
7. Deff 184
8. Last Trane
9. Constant Comment
10. Foxy Morons