Susan Weinert Band - The Bottom Line

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:21
Size: 136,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:42)  1. Hombre
(4:26)  2. Triple X
(8:34)  3. Tribute To Fitzcarraldo
(5:05)  4. Don't Smile Too Soon
(1:21)  5. Masters Of The Midiverse
(4:29)  6. That's For You
(6:08)  7. Kluski Theory
(6:18)  8. Dakota Kid
(3:54)  9. Nothing
(5:10) 10. Trabucco
(7:11) 11. Vinnie

This time out, Susan Weinert has mellowed some since her fiery Crunch Time 1994 release. The excellent guitar playing is still everywhere but things are toned down a few notches leaning more towards straight up jazz with less crunchy-edged fusion. Weinert's acoustic guitar and Martin Weinert's acoustic bass works well in the melding of electric and non-electric moods. Even keyswoman extraordinaire, Rachel Z, chimes in with ivory clean runs and flourishes to augment Weinert's electric guitars and guitar-synth. That jazz standards feel comes through here and there but this release retains Weinert's strong signature sound, slightly overdriven, and sustained warmly. Again that Scott Henderson aura is predominantly present but a certain Frank Gambale lilt and warmth of presence and tone is recurrent. Rachel Z comes and goes in keyboard washes and embellishings, interwoven wonderfully in Susan Weinert's delightful compositions. Hardy Fischötter plays the drums with perfection and evident purpose. 

On "Masters of the Midiverse" we are treated to a delicious Holdsworthian guitar-synth intro that melts into an oh-so-Metheny moment complete with brushes on drums and Rachel Z tinkling away in her butterfly kisses way. Very, very nice.This release is an 11 song delight, track to track, with surprise after surprise of mellow wonder. The final cut, "Vinnie" again treads Holdsworthian waters in the composition's stylings early on but is also seems a subtle tribute to Vinnie Coliauta?, sounding at times like a cut from his recent solo release. Rachel Z gets to stretch a great deal here! For those of you out there looking for great jazz guitar and splendid keys but want less screaming amps yet able to groove too The Bottom Line is just right for you. Recommended!~AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-bottom-line-intuition-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Personnel:  Drums – Hardy Fischötter;  Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Martin Weinert;  Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – Susan Weinert;  Piano, Keyboards – Rachel Z

The Bottom Line

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Susan Weinert Band - Point Of View

Size: 118,6 MB
Time: 51:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Fusion, Prog. Rock
Art: Front

01. Liebman ( 3:12)
02. The Kobayashi Syndrom ( 4:44)
03. Knock On Wood ( 3:41)
04. Trust Me ( 4:29)
05. Day (10:15)
06. Did I Get You Right ( 4:18)
07. The Proof ( 4:38)
08. Les Trois Arbes ( 5:50)
09. Fort Carre ( 4:20)
10. La Fuerza Del Viento ( 2:59)
11. No Warm-Ups ( 2:32)

Susan Weinert never ceases to amaze me with her growth and versatility as an incredible jazz guitarist and composer. This release has her growing into another new voice in her guitar stylings. This time around I picked up on a certain smoother Gambale feel moreso than Hendersonic crunch. Check out opening track, “Liebman” which calls to mind Gambale’s Thunder Down Under. Only on the groove-funk-scat, with distorto-axe, outro to “Day” do we hear the obvious tribute to Tribal Tech. Sonic snippets of Terje Rypdal/Bill Frisell howlings apppear too. She showcases an easy grasp of acoustic jazz guitar flair this go round on several pieces. I heard Towner, Abercrombie, and a smidgen of Bill Connors acoustics. Wonderfully rich and warm acoustic piano is offered on many tracks by Jean-Yves Jung. Tenor sax by Pierre Bertrand is heard on “The Proof”.

Probably the most extraordinary thing happening on Point of View alongside Weinert’s above par guitar is the absolutely unreal but true vocal abilities of Michael Schiefel! Wow! This guy has a dynamic range that is beyond androgynous. He wails so beautifully like a lady then swoops out of soprano and deep into octaves of the baritone boys. I actually had to e-mail Weinert to assure myself this was a man singing. Schiefel and Weinert do vox/string unison runs that bring goosebumps. She wails and bends notes right alongside the enchanting flurry of notes by songbird Schiefel. Scat has never sounded so very, very cool.

This is just one more recommended release in a string of goodies that Weinert and crew produce. Martin Weinert is acoustic bass throughout each song. Hardy Fischötter handles the drums like a pro everywhere. Nice job folks. Point of View will appeal to folks seeking great guitar in a mellower setting yet not compromising some edge here and there. Yeah, we get down and groove on the final cut, “No Warm-Ups”, I told ya so. Superb, Susan and gang! You’ve outdone yourselves once again. ~AAJ Staff

Point Of View

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