Drum virtuoso Marc Norgaard has assembled a fine group of musicians to help him out on his latest solo album Tolerance. Any time you have Planet X guitarist Brett Garsed, Chick Corea Elektric Band guitarist Frank Gambale, Allan Holdsworth keyboard player Steve Hunt, Oblivion Sun bassist Dave MeMarco, and National Guitar Workshop 'zen guitarist' Tobias Hurwitz on board with you, chances are the final result will be some pretty hot prog and jazz-fusion. Tolerance is more the latter as you make your way through this CD, as most of these instrumental tracks are melodic, breezy affairs, with just enough tasty soloing to spice things up. Gambale's sizzling sweep picking lights up the airy "Last Leg Home", and his gorgeous jazz licks cut right through Norgaard's tricky drum fills and DeMarco's baritone melodies on "Summer Storm". It's the ever dependable Garsed though who steals the show here, as he's more than capable on the straight jazz numbers as well as the proggy stuff, as he tears it up on solid cuts like "Goes to Reason", "Pirate Sized Hangover", and the exciting title track. Though he only appears here on the song "Seventh Mile Fog", Hurwitz brings his herculean tone and monster chops to this shimmering piece, Norgaard's busy stick work really working overtime alongside DeMarco's muscular bass grooves.
Pretty tasty stuff overall, and while I would have liked to hear more of a presence from Hunt in spots, as well as a bit more aggression on some of the songs, those into melodic, classy progressive fusion should really enjoy this one. Marc Norgaard proves to not only be a dynamic player, but a solid songwriter as well. Along with his talented friends, they've delivered an enjoyable instrumental CD here.
Track Listing
1 Tolerance
2 Goes to Reason
3 Day in the Desert
4 Last Leg Home
5 Papaya Dream
6 Summer Storm
7 Seventh Mile Fog
8 Pirate Sized Hangover
9 Retrospective
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