NearFest07 - The Reviews

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

NearFest07 - Fusion Friday
Wow, my first progressive rock festival weekend. What a feat to be able to put one of these things together. If you read the history of this event on their website you'd understand a lot more, if you have not been to one before.
The Zoellner Arts Center is a very nice performance space. 1002 seats in an orchestra listening seating arrangement (which means seats span from one side of the house all the way across unbroken by center aisles). There is a raised rear seating area and a balcony. It is very spacious and well appointed. The acoustics are good in the house. My seat was in the front row near center of the balcony.
The weekend began with Friday Night Fusion. The first group was ONE SHOT. From France, they bring a hard edge rock fusion. It is led by their keyboardist and guitarist and backed by bass and drums. (Rick, Cozy - help me out with the performer names here, please.) The piano parts are usually atmospheric using an electric Rhodes piano sound which lays a tranquil backdrop to the fast paced pickings and textures of the guitar. With those to I had no complaint. I did have trouble with the sound quality of the bass. It was muddled and low. There were some interesting phasing but it was not mixed into the house system well and you could not discern notes very well. You could get the rhythm, a very driving and energetic rhythm, but the melodic toning were missing.
The drummer was very, very energetic. But the lack of a large kit made for a very monotonous styling. I'm hoping he had to made due with a rental unit because of having to come overseas and that wasn't his ususal style. Especially since he had to fight with his high hat for one song until the technicians could come out and replace it. That takes a lot away from the enjoyment of the song when you see the musicians suffer that way.
All-in-all, the set was very good. Kudos to the festival for starting on time. despite some technical difficulties the group played well together and really worked up the crowd. A little language barrier in between songs was amusingly handled.a
The second set was a reunion of Secret Oyster. A jazz fusion group in the vain of Passport, Return To Forever and Weather Report. This marked the first time that Karsten Vogel has played in the United States. I just wish they had provided better sound support for his incredible soprano and alto saxophone playing. Other than that, the group was relatively well mixed. The lead guitar could have been bumped up some to lend a little more strength to the solos. But the technique was superb. And since these guys have been around since the early 70's they still could put on a great show. [I must admit, however, that their 'more mature' appearance led me to believe that I had stumbled into the Sunset Retirement Home Friday Night Talent Show when I came back in from the break.] But seriously, their compositions were tight, controlled and well executed. Some sitting near me commented they liked One Shot better because of their "jamming" style. Well, Secret Oyster did confess to having only played about 6-8 rehearsal sessions before this gig, so they were certainly a little reserved. But they were spot on. A good set.
Now, to the Headliner of the night: Jimmy Johnson on bass, Chad Wackerman on percussion, and Allan Holdsworth on guitar. What a great trio. They obviously had more of their own equipment, especially for the bass player, so they did not suffer some of the sound issues as the first two groups. Jimmy Johnson intonation and riffs were clear and beautiful. Makes me weep for a tenth of his talent to fall upon me. Chad, what can I say. Wow. what a consummate percussionist. Excellent kit instrumentation, and use. He was a joy to watch and listen. Now Allan. What a style, like no other. Listening to him is not the same as watching him play. When you see him play, you go 'how did he make those sounds with his hands stretched out so wide. His incredible reach allows him to create chord progressions and occidentals that no many others can. That being said, you otherwise might as well shut your eyes cause the man just stands there and plays. A self-confessed "Mr. Personality" when he plays. But wow, the sounds. Only low of the set may have been in the last 3-4 numbers. By the end they all began to sound very much alike. I wish a little more diversity had been programed in just to spice it up.
So that's the end of Night One. Fusion Friday. An interesting mix of styles and sounds. I very much enjoyed the diversity of the three groups. Allan was definitely the hit of the night. I really enjoyed Secret Oyster (but I'm a bit Weather Report fan), but I think the crowd like One Shot more. One shot had the energy level way up.

Tomorrow - IZZ, NebelBest, Bob Drake, Magenta and Hawkwind.