ADAM de LUCIA

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING

Adam de Lucia ADAM de LUCIA is a surprise package of soundscapes and genres blended together like a spicy musical stew.  There is a pinch of rock, heavy-handed on the fusion jazz, a good amount of percussion and rhythm added by Jordan Perlson, salty synthesizers and keyboards sprinkled throughout, and guitar sounds, thick as gravy pouring from Adam De Lucia’s instruments.

De Lucia began collaborations with a core group of musicians from New York’s improvisational community. They worked together on his original music, following the scores, but always adding the important element of individual freedom, improvisation, and the importance of emotional connection.  That’s jazz!

His album opens with “Cycle One” presenting an introduction of strings featuring the violins of Alex Fortes and Ben Russell, blending with Nick Revel on viola and Hamilton Berry on cello. Then, the guitar voice of Oz Noy enters the scene. Now we move into full-on fusion mode. Forte’s string arrangements resurface at the end of the tune, like an exclamation mark.

De Lucia has composed and arranged all the music for this project.  His tune “Gorilla” comes next, with Tim Lefebvre’s electric bass prodding the groove forward and Henry Hey also instrumental in establishing the groove. But it’s the tune “Store On the Corner” that snatches my complete attention. Love the Lefebvre bass line and Perlson’s powerhouse drums. The pulse soon changes to a double time feel with a strong rock flavor, and Michael Ghegan’s tenor saxophone dances on top.

“Will You Follow” expands into a more melodic guitar interpretation at the top of the tune. Parts of the arrangement feature a vocal riff that repeats, like a song hook, featuring Chrissi Poland. Ghegan also lends vocals to this production. This tune sounds quite commercial and should get lots of airplay.

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ADAM De LUCIA BAND; Adam De Lucia, electric guitar (Telecaster/Gibson SG/Stratocaster)/composer/arranger; Oz Noy, electric guitar/additional guitar production; Cody McCorry & Tim Lefebvre, electric bass/additional bass production; Jordan Perlson, drums/cymbals/tambourine/claps/jam block; Alex Fortes, violin/arrangements; Ben Russell, violin; Nick Revel, viola; Hamilton Berry, cello; Donny McCaslin, tenor saxophone; Henry Hey, Rhodes/synthesizers (Roland Juno 60/Oberheim OB-X8/Hybrid Synth/Prophet 6)/additional synthesizer production/ acoustic piano; Michael Ghegan, tenor saxophone/vocals; Brian Lawlor, keyboard; Chrissi Poland, vocals; Kevin Grossman, handclaps.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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