Razz

Item: Clazz
Author: Chris MacIntosh

Clazz

(1999)

Reviewed by Chris MacIntosh

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Label Razzody MusicThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

funk jazz fusion

Once upon a time in the dark and distant days of the late 70's a young and talented guitarist named James Vincent is credited with starting a hybrid form of jazz called "Fusion." And it came to pass in a roundabout sort of way that James begat Paul Clark and Paul begat Koinonia, and in 1984 a band of jazz artists going under the name of Razz released their first album. Christian radio back then didn't have a clue what to do with a jazz release, they still don't as a matter of fact. That's why you don't hear of too many Christian music stations that have a jazz format. Now you need to understand that we're talking about real music here, not the kind of stuff that is recycled hymns that you hear waiting for your appointment in a dentist office or stuck between floors on an elevator. So in 1985 Razz parted ways due to their record company going belly up. Fast forward 16 years and like Carol Ann said in Poltergeist 2, "They're back"

Clazz rhymes with Razz and that means jazz, fusion that is. This new release is chock full of great riffs, solid playing and just a total sense of good hot music. The funky tunes make you want to get up and dance and the slower tunes are by no means boring but are thought provoking and wistful. Rather than a strict band, Razz seems to be a core group of steady players with a liberal dose of guest sidemen. To say that the playing credits of these guys is impressive is a vast understatement. They have played with the likes of Maynard Ferguson, Della Reese, Frank Zappa, Michael McDonald and Woody Herman just to name a few. I tend to enjoy fusion, but some of it can get to be repetitive and monotonous, that is not at all the case on this disc. It holds up as fresh and exciting with each new listening. This is the kind of recording that will stay in your CD player for quite a long while. You'll want to kidnap your friends for a car ride and say check this out. I'd have to say my favorite cuts are: "Intro", "Sometimes Everytime" & "Clazz."

5 tocks