Tribal Tech

Tribal Tech - Illicit - 1992 - Bluemoon

By the time Illicit was released in 1992, Scott Henderson & Tribal Tech (led by Henderson and bassists Gary Willis) had been established as one of the premier, if not the premier, experimental fusion outfits on the globe. That's "fusion" as in the fusion of jazz and rock, not the vanilla instrumental musings of artists like Kenny G, which are occasionally mislabled as such. Henderson's dramatic and powerful soloing and his incredibly refined chord work were the greatest causes for the early attention the group received, and Illicit only furthered the guitarist's reputation with its fire and musical vigor. Henderson's tone is sublime and Holdsworth-ian in its often horn-like quality, and Covington, bassist Gary Willis, and keyboardist Scott Kinsey somehow manage to match Henderson's dynamism and character. "Torque" is Illicit's clear highlight, with its prog rock bombast of power chords topped with angular, classically influenced harmony keyboard and guitar flurries. Experimental and intense, Illicit is as solid an offering as Tribal Tech delivered in the '90s. © Jason Anderson © 2014 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/illicit-mw0000083091

Illicit was Tribal Tech's 1992 spit-in-the-face to corporate radio and record companies who would have the public believing "light jazz" is really fusion like 1989's Nomad. The opening track, "The Big Wave," is a convincing spoof of a light jazz radio station found in any big city in the United States. The track begins with a cheerily cheesy tune, which sounds like something that might be played on one of the many 'wave' stations. Then the drums increase in tempo and volume until the original melody is obliterated, whereupon the band launches into some very loud, very edgy and highly syncopated playing--the hallmark of Tribal Tech. Illicit features two improvisational numbers, "Riot" (named for the L.A. riots happening nearby at that time) and "Aftermath" (also pointing out the riot's devistation). Bottom line--this album sounds like a live-in-the-studio record, with a raw, cutting sound and less slickness in the overall production. Highly recommended to all fusion fans. – from ***** TRIBAL TECH KICKS, August 17, 2001 By & © Antonio (Lawrence, KS) © 1996-2014, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates http://www.amazon.com/Illicit-Tribal-Tech/product-reviews/B0000034BY/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop/180-2165885-2138266?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R1RSNOFUR4WT3N

These guys “click” together like few other jazz fusion bands, and their improvisatory skills are pure genius. “Illicit” is one of TT’s strongest and best albums and VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to T.T’s “Dr. Hee” album, and read more about this great jazz fusion band on this blog [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 146 Mb]

TRACKS /COMPOSERS

1 The Big Wave (Gary Willis) 6:31
2 Stoopid (Gary Willis) 5:47
3 Black Cherry (Scott Henderson) 6:42
4 Torque (Scott Henderson) 6:02
5 Slidin' Into Charlisa (Scott Henderson) 7:32
6 Root Food (Scott Henderson) 8:13
7 Riot (Henderson, Willis, Kinsey, Covington) 6:58
8 Paha Sapa (Gary Willis) 3:24
9 Babylon (Gary Willis) 5:26
10 Aftermath (Henderson, Willis, Kinsey, Covington) 7:03

MUSICIANS

Scott Henderson - Guitar
Gary Willis - Bass
Scott Kinsey - Keyboards
Kirk Covington - Drums