Music Review: Tribaljazz - Tribaljazz

Let’s get one thing out in the open right from the start – I’m not a jazz fan. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I dislike jazz per se more that I’ve never felt drawn to it. I’ve listened to a few rock artists who’ve dabbled in it (Cold Chisel, Billy Joel etc.) but unlike country or blues I’ve never felt the urge to explore further.

So what brought me to Tribaljazz? The Doors connection is the simple answer. I’ve been a Doors fan for years and have listened to several of the band members’ solo projects, from Ray Manzarek’s self-indulgent The Golden Scarab to Robbie Krieger and Friends technically brilliant but uninspired album. I’ve always hoped to find some of the magic of the Doors recordings but I’ve always been disappointed. The Doors connection on this album is twofold, first Doors drummer John Densmore is the driving forces behind the band and secondly… well we’ll save that second connection for a little later.

Of the Doors members I’ve always had Densmore down as the weakest link, so it’s with some surprise that I say this is by far the most enjoyable solo project I’ve heard from any of the surviving band members. It’s often the drummer that gets overlooked in a band and that seems to have been the case with Densmore, here he’s much more in the driving seat with much of the album built on his solid rhythms, the skeleton that the other musicians add flesh to.

Densmore’s partner in crime is Art Ellis who not only provides some emotive flute and Soprano/Alto Sax playing but also wrote the bulk of the songs and co-produced the album with the drummer. The album is a blend of traditional jazz with world music as evidenced by the Cuban rhythms on "La Tormenta" or the African inspired sound of "Orange Midnight".

On the track "Vegetable Wizard" it’s more than just the French vocal of Marcel Adjibi that evokes images of smoky bars is Paris. In fact this is what much of the enjoyment of this album comes from, allowing the music to transport you to exotic locals.

Article Author: Ian Woolstencroft

Ian Woolstencroft was brought up on a diet of John Wayne movies and Marvel Comics and still has a passion for both. Now as a blogcritic he finally understands what Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben meant when he said ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ …

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