Victor Bailey

Following the success of Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" in 1970 spin-off musicians from that momentous session became the hothouse flowers for several extremely influential groups - Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters", Joe Zawinul's "Weather Report" and Chic Corea's "Return To Forever".On the latest CD by bassist Victor Bailey "That's Right" (ESC Records) there are ex-members from all three seminal bands. Victor himself is an ex-alumnus of the Weather Report school, Lenny White was long-time drummer with RTF, soprano sax-player Bill Evans spent years with Miles while Benny Maupin was tenor saxist and bass clarinettist with Headhunters.

The breadth of "That's Right" is quite head-spinning. All manner of funk moves, in any key are likely to unfold into Brazilian music, jazz, blues, rock, classical or world music….or maybe it's the other way around. The first couple of tracks dig the funk mine with a devastating musical virtuosity that only musicians of the aforementioned calibre could accomplish. Indeed the second number is a very hairy rearrangement of two George Clinton classics "Knee Deep" and "One Nation Medley". The late Jaco Pastorius…ex-Miles…ex-Weather Report….was the most influential bass player of the jazz-rock movement.

Victor's bass bears his indelible sound-print more noticeably on the light- hearted yet hard as nails laid back blues tribute..Where's Jaco? complete with a rap from inside a padded cell. It's a good indication of the album's overall quality to point out that the two introspective pieces are absolute highlights of this 9 track work. Joey, a moving tribute to the bassist's late brother is a beautiful display of virtuosity and soul while "Steamy" is a meditation on world music featuring Benny's bass clarinet in thoughtful response to Jim Beard's electronic keyboards, a piece that gradually accelerates into a sparse mid-tempo blues.

Another highly original number is a very kinetic bass tribute to J.S. Bach called "Black On Bach". The title track is the last one, taking the record out….and out there, on a squalling display of jazz-funk. It's great to know that musicians whom I haven't heard in years are keeping the fires burning bright. I mentioned saxophonist Bill Evans above and …lo and behold! A mint copy of "Big Fun" (ESC Records) appeared before my very eyes. If your favourite funk style is the meat and 3 veg variety then Bill's the man for you. With the saxophonist sticking mainly to the tenor and his awesome ability to approach the jugular from a variety of angles, some quite lyrical, banging arrangements and oodles of soul this is the one to put on at your next funk rave-up.

With guest Robben Ford adding some nice jazz-rock guitar on a couple of tracks and an old Diaspora favourite vocalist Les McCann really gritting it up on such brilliantly anthemic soul numbers as "Catch You When You Fall" and "That's That", you can rest assured that "Big Fun" is just that. Bill even breaks the cool barrier by inviting Willie Nelson to sing one number, an appropriately laconic version of the hippy era Stephen Stills classic "For What It's Worth". The saxophonist switches to soprano sax for two numbers only, the superb modal swinger "Road To Bilbao" and the lovely introspective "Real Heroes". RJ July 2003