Gary Husband

Gary Husband - Dirty and Beautiful, Vol. 2 - 2012 - Abstract Logix / City Hall

Rather than releasing a double album, keyboardist/drummer Gary Husband split the jazz fusion songs he recorded with high-profile guests into two separate but equal hour-long discs. It's a logical, economically feasible way to get this music out and probably makes for a better overall listening experience, too, since the sound can get wearing, even over the length of a single platter. Anyone who enjoyed the first volume from 2011 will find the same pleasures here as Husband invites mostly guitar-shredding guests such as Mike Stern, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Robin Trower, Jimmy Herring, and old pal Allan Holdsworth, among others, for a good, old-fashioned '80s fusion fest. As is typical of the genre, the line between noodling and edgy improvisation can get awfully thin and there are moments that alternate on either side of that divide. That's the case within the confines of some songs such as the ten-minute John McLaughlinextravaganza "Sulley" that goes through multiple tempo changes, winding through its extended playing time with some terrific guitar soloing and some that just meanders. Props to bassist Mark King, whose husky yet malleable playing on the track holds down the rhythm and keeps the song vital even when the leads wander. Trower's Hendrix-inspired bluesy reverb on Miles Davis' "Yesternow-Epilogue" fades in where the first set's "Yesternow-Prologue" left off in a performance that blurs the border between rock and jazz. The energized nature of the disc is tempered on a short and lovely reading of Jan Hammer's "Rain." Hammer doesn't contribute to the track, but he does appear on Holdsworth's "Fred 2011," lettingHusband -- who plays both drums and keyboards on eight of the eleven cuts -- concentrate on percussion. A similar dynamic applies to John McLaughlin's "New Blues, Old Bruise," where the guitarist is M.I.A. Rather, tenor saxist Sean Freeman, whose playing is strongly influenced by Wayne Shorter, gets free reign to strut his impressive stuff, which shifts from lovely to jagged as he blows his way through the ten-minute jam. Despite the obviously overdubbed nature ofHusband's double-duty instrumental work, this album, and the previous one, sounds remarkably organic. That's especially true of the funky "East River Jam" featuring a relatively dialed down Wayne Krantz, whose innovative solos seldom go where you think they will. It adds up to a tasty, if somewhat inconsistent project that will please fans of both the old-school jazz fusion genre and of the prestigious musicians who help Husband bring it home. © Hal Horowitz © 2014 AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/dirty-and-beautiful-vol-2-mw0002290046

Multi-directional drummer-keyboardist- composer Husband, a member of the stellar fusion band John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension, assembled an all-star cast for his second volume of powerhouse originals and a few well- chosen covers. Guitar aficionados in particular will drool over the presence of such six-string heroes as McLaughlin (wailing with unparalleled fretboard facility in a power trio with Level 42 bassist Mark King on the heavy-duty rock-funk number “Sulley”), Mike Stern (showcasing his signature fleet-fingered ‘chops of doom’ on “Rolling Sevens”), Alan Holdsworth (on a remake of his Tony Williams New Lifetime classic, “Fred,” which also features synth wiz Jan Hammer), and Robin Trower (performing a blues-soaked, wah-wah laden cover of Miles Davis’ “Yesternow” from A Tribute to Jack Johnson). Newer guitar stars like Wayne Krantz (“East River Jam”), Jimmy Herring (“England Green”), and the amazing Alex Machacek (performing his complex, Zappaesque suite “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Brothers”) add to the visceral appeal. Husband doubles on drums and synths throughout; his power-precision drumming fuels each exhilarating track while his synth chops (and choice of unique timbres) elevate and intensify the proceedings. © Bill Milkowski | Jul 01st, 2012 © 2014 The Absolute Sound. All rights reserved. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/gary-husband-dirty-beautiful-volume-2/

Multi-dimensional drummer, keyboardist, composer and arranger Gary Husband hits his stride with Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2, his latest release on Abstract Logix Records. Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 features an explosive all-star line-up of guest musicians such as John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jan Hammer, Robin Trower, Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Mark King, Alex Machacek and Mike Stern. Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 does not merely pick up where 2010's Volume 1 left off. Volume 2 expands upon Gary's musical vision of creating music that is passionate and sophisticated, yet infused with grit and rawness. The mix of Husband originals and cover tunes are driven by the combination of the dynamic powerhouse drumming, ferocious lead lines and distinctly evocative keyboard harmony that altogether define Gary Husband's 'multiple threat' of a musical voice. Selected highlights of Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 are FRED 2011: A reworking of the classic Allan Holdsworth song with Holdworth on guitar and synth-master Jan Hammer taking an extended fire breathing solo. SULLEY: a stompin' rocker with the great John McLaughlin on guitar and bassist Mark King getting down and dirty. YESTERNOW EPILOGUE: guitarist Robin Trower continues his Strat-soaked blues rave-up that was teasingly hinted at on YESTERNOW PREVIEW from Volume 1. Alex Machacek deliciously smouldering on his self-penned LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BROTHERS. ENGLAND GREEN: an evocative Husband original with Jimmy Herring playing the lyrical theme on guitar. NEW BLUES, OLD BRUISE: a John McLaughlin composition given a jazzier edge featuring rising tenor sax star Sean Freeman. Not to mention other new GH originals featuring the angular intelligence of Wayne Krantz and the fiery, electric bop of Mike Stern. With a roster of top-tier musicians and stellar performances, Gary Husband's Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 promises to be one of the most musically exciting and musically rewarding releases of 2012. © Editorial Reviews © 1996-2014, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Beautiful-Volume-Gary-Husband/dp/B006I01K82

Gary Husband’s latest album, Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2, is the follow-up to the well-received Volume 1. The music manages to be both evocative and forward-looking. This is no easy trick. All-star albums can present problems. The music can be difficult to take on tour since each song was tailored for a specific musician or band. It can also be daunting to present any sort of thematic vision for the same reason. Often, these gatherings are also weighed down by the desire to cram the CD with as much music as possible, which can lead to all-star overkill. In this instance, in fact, there are several tunes that Husband can take on the road, and in a couple of cases, has already done so. There is something comforting in having John McLaughlin playing on “Sully,” as he has done so many times in his 4th Dimension band, or to hear Allan Holdsworth update “Fred,” a tune Pat Metheny wished he had written, or to hear Jan Hammer play on anything! (I never thought I would use the word comforting when referring to fusion music!) The theme of the album is clearly Gary Husband's heart. We know where Husband’s heart lies because his inspirations are all over Volume 2. In addition to his own, there are compositions from McLaughlin, Hammer, Miles Davis and Allan Holdsworth. These are his formative heroes. There are also pieces written by his contemporaries Alex Machacek and Wayne Krantz, whom he met through dealings with his record label Abstract Logix. His inspirations and compatriots are all headed to some unknown place, though by varying routes. Husband is grateful he was set on this journey, but will never rest on their laurels or his. The line-up, much like on Volume 1, is guitar heavy. Ray Russell, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, Allan Holdsworth, Neil Taylor, Alex Machacek, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Herring and Robin Trower would make for one hell of a guitar festival. I don’t want to leave the other string players out. Bassists Jimmy Johnson, Teymur Phell, Mark King, Laurence Cottle and Livingstone Brown deserve their own festival. Conjuring up a groove that at times harkens back to Weather Report’s “Mr. Gone,” and at other times to the material from John McLaughlin’s late nineties band The Heart of Things, “If The Animals Had Guns Too” gets the album off to a rousing start. The tune features a sneaky Jimmy Johnson bass intro, Ray Russell’s twisted guitar stabs and Husband’s synth over his own pre-recorded drums. Besides having a great title, “If The Animals Had Guns Too” would seem to be a perfect number for Husband to bring into John McLaughlin’s 4th Dimension band, of which he is one dimension. The extraordinary Mike Stern plays skittering lead on the rhythmically charged “Rolling Sevens” and there’s a new wonderful take on McLaughlin’s “New Blues, Old Bruise,” without McLaughlin, but with saxophonist Sean Freeman instead. Husband’s playing, on drums, synth and keyboards, is a tour de force, while Freeman effectively captures the essence of McLaughlin’s intent. Jan Hammer, a central figure to Husband, makes a rare appearance on “Fred 2011.” What a band that could be- Allan’s trio featuring Jimmy Johnson on bass, Husband on drums plus Jan Hammer on keyboards! Come on Jan! One tune earlier, Husband pays tribute to Hammer with a beautifully realized version of Hammer’s tune “Rain” performed with guitarist Neal Taylor. Husband’s solo piece, the atmospheric “Fuguie,” allows him to showcase his synthesizer bona fides. Over the years, I have tended to be more impressed with the drummer Gary Husband than the keyboardist Gary Husband. His brilliant solo piano albums in tribute to Allan Holdsworth (The Things I See) and John McLaughlin (A Meetings of Spirits) and his now longstanding keyboard stint with McLaughlin have made me reconsider. He seems to be on the same remarkable footing on both skins and keys. Husband’s “Sully” was written years ago, but updated a couple of tours back and then, per John McLaughlin’s suggestion, combined with McLaughlin’s epic Shakti piece “Get Down and Sruti.” Though, despite the intention, because of the electronics, I think most people will identify it with “Sruti’s” offspring, “Honky-Tonk Haven” from McLaughlin’s Music Spoken Here. A deeper groove is not possible. Wayne Krantz and Alex Machacek do nothing but enhance their growing reputations as key leaders in whatever we are calling fusion music these days. Husband and Krantz, a guitarist with an entirely unique center of balance, have come to know and admire each other over the last few years. I am sure numerous conversations resulted in the short and compelling “East River Jam.” Machacek’s “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Brothers” is a multifaceted presentation replete with beautiful jaggedness, sinuous lines and programmed effects. Its scope is an impressive landscape for Machacek and Husband to roam. Jimmy Herring has been a welcome addition to the jazz-rock fold these last several years. His wonderful tone, which he carries in his jeans’ back pocket, and his natural musical acumen bring a charm to Husband’s short anthem “England Green.” The album almost comes to an end with the appearance of Robin Trower, certainly not a fusion musician, and as far as I know, someone with little or no interest in the whole movement. The guitarist features on a section of Miles Davis “Yesternow” from Tribute to Jack Johnson in theoretical trio with Husband (drums and keyboards) and bassist Livingston Brown. (Trower also played another part of “Yesternow” on Volume 1. I wonder if it is Husband’s intention to have Trower help recreate the entire Jack Johnson album? By my estimate, at this pace, they could finish it by Dirty & Beautiful Volume 10.) Regardless, Trower, Husband and Livingstone Brown do Miles proud! The connected “Epilogue” section, also from Jack Johnson, is an unexpected gift. Husband plays it alone on synth. It is different music from the original, but its undertow of sentiment still washes over us. In fact, I find myself sitting here in prolonged silence after song's end, much in the same mood remembered from listening to Jack Johnson for the first time almost four decades ago. I was quite a bit younger then. I am quite a bit older now. Music can reunite the younger and older in us. It says something of the high standards that have become expected of Gary Husband, that this review underplays his actual musical contributions to his own project. His obvious talent and creativity is there for everyone to enjoy, but it is his role as facilitator on this recording that is more important. Choosing and creating the right material is an art. There is a reason these magnificent musicians want to play with Gary Husband. After listening, you will understand why. Just because you can fit 74 minutes of music on a CD, doesn’t mean you have to! Husband has wisely decided to present about 55 minutes. Perfect. There is no filler on Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 ! It is all prime cut. © Walter Kolosky- Author of the books Power, Passion and Beauty and Follow Your Heart-John McLaughlin song by song." Walter Kolosky only writes reviews of music that he highly recommends :-) http://www.walterkolosky.com/musicreviews/dirtyandbeautifulvolume2

Five guitarists and five bassists play on this great album. The percussive and keyboard work by Gary Husband is wonderful not to mention the magnificent guitar work from Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Allan Holdsworth, Wayne Krantz, John McLaughlin and others. The album is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to Gary’s great “The Things I See” album and “Dirty & Beautiful Volume One”. Read more about Gary Husband @ http://www.garyhusband.com/gh/bio/ [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 151 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 If the Animals Had Guns Too - Gary Husband 5:28
2 Rolling Sevens - Gary Husband 4:44
3 New Blues, Old Bruise - John McLaughlin 10:20
4 East River Jam - Gary Husband / Wayne Krantz 3:01
5 Fred 2011 - Allan Holdsworth 4:47
6 Rain - Jan Hammer 2:47
7 Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Brothers - Alex Machacek 6:14
8 Fuguie - Gary Husband 4:18
9 Sulley - Gary Husband 10:07
10 England Green - Gary Husband 2:51
11 Yesternow (Epilogue) - Miles Davis 4:52

MUSICIANS

Wayne Krantz, Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Jimmy Herring, Ray Russell, Neil Taylor - Guitar
Alex Machacek - Guitar, Programming
Livingstone Brown, Laurence Cottle, Teymur Phell, Jimmy Johnson, Mark King - Bass
Gary Husband - Keyboards, Drums, Percussion
Jan Hammer - Keyboards
Sean Freeman - Tenor Sax

MORE TRACK DETAILS

Guitar – Alex Machacek (track: 7), Allan Holdsworth (track: 5), Jimmy Herring (track: 10),
John McLaughlin (track: 9), Mike Stern (track: 2), Neil Taylor (track: 6), Ray Russell (track: 1),
Robin Trower (track: 11), Wayne Krantz (track: 4)
Bass – Jimmy Johnson (tracks: 1, 5), Laurence Cottle (track: 10), Livingstone Brown (track: 11),
Mark King (track: 9), Teymur Phell (track: 2)
Keyboards – Gary Husband (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 8 to 11), Jan Hammer (track: 5)
Drums – Gary Husband (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11)
Percussion – Gary Husband (track: 1)
Tenor Saxophone – Sean Freeman (track: 3)

SHORT BIO

A pianist, drummer, and bandleader, Gary Husband is a journeyman jazz-rock musician with a versatile, dynamic, and genre-bending approach to improvised music. Born in Leeds in 1960, Husband studied classical piano and jazz before finding work professionally. In the '90s, Husband began leading his own piano trio featuring bassist Mick Hutton and drummer Gene Calderazzo and released the album From the Heart in 1999. During this time he continued to work with other artists including Billy Cobham, Jimmy Nail, Anthony Hindson, and more. He returned to his solo work with 2004's Aspire as well as The Things I See: Interpretations of the Music of Allan Holdsworth that same year. In 2006, Husband investigated another of his influences with A Meeting of Spirits: Interpretations of the Music of John McLaughlin. In 2008, he delivered the highly personal The Complete Diary of a Plastic Box, which featured works Husband penned while touring as a sideman from 1989 to 1993. A year later, he returned in a more post-bop mood with the album Hotwired: Gary Husband's Drive. In 2010, he was joined by Holdsworth and a list of legendary fusion artists including McLaughlin, keyboardist Jan Hammer, and guitarist Robin Trower for Dirty and Beautiful, Vol. 1. In 2012, Husband followed up the project with Dirty and Beautiful, Vol. 2. © Matt Collar © 2013 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-husband-mn0000739464/biography