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Recommended Listening With Damian Erskine: Anthony Jackson | “Interspirit”
Anthony Jackson & Yiorgos Fakanas “Interspirit”
The world has long awaited a debut recording by one of Bass histories most highly-regarded and seminal players, Anthony Jackson.
Bass players and fusion lovers rejoice as ‘Interspirit’ is some fusion of the highest order.
I’m not entirely sure I personally would call this Anthony’s debut release as Yiorgos not only wrote the music, but took the bass solos and played the bass melodies. While he did work closely with Anthony, I couldn’t help but feel like I still wasn’t getting let into what ANTHONY’s voice was on the recording beyond the personality and style that he brings to every recording session (over 3,000 of them!). How this is Anthony Jackson’s album any more than “For The Love of Money” was Anthony’s song, I’m not sure but, all of that aside, the album is stellar!
The writing is stellar and I just love the instrumentation. Yiorgas’ use of strings and horns brings a classical sensibility to this otherwise Weckl-ish fusion album (not a slight at all… I love this style of groove oriented highly-technical and phenomenally performed music). Yiorgas writing is sublime and he really brings a nice flavor to the affair with his harmonic depth and breadth of scope in regards to the compositions.
All in all, this is a sublime fusion album. I can’t help but be a tad disappointed that we didn’t get a more inside perspective on Anthony as a composer, I am in no way disappointed by the music here.
Interestingly, while I feel that I am not listening to Anthony speaking with HIS own voice because the material was written by Yiorgas, I can’t help but think that, if I dig just a little bit deeper, it becomes apparent that maybe THAT IS Anthony’s voice. That of a vehicle for artfully and intelligently interpreted bass playing for other peoples music.
I’ve always felt a kinship with him in this way. I never wanted to solo as much as others wanted me to.. I just want to play bass. I forced myself to write because I felt I should, even tho I just love playing and interpreting others music. Maybe he just had the balls to stay true to himself, so he hired one of his favorite guys to do the writing and soloing for him. When you think about it… ain’t nothing wrong with that!
Anthony speaks load and clear here.