JASON KRUK

BEYOND THE VEIL

Sungoose Records

“Beyond the Veil” is an avant-garde album dedicated to the father of Jason Kruk. It’s made up of compositions that share Jason’s story of growth, pain, madness and redemption.

Kruk offers us a combination of styles and genre’s, beginning with avant-garde on the first cut called “Ascension” and then morphing into a funk-driven arrangement of a tune called “Awakening.”  This song reminded me of the group Tower of Power.  If that powerhouse group and fusion jazz had a baby, it would be named “Awakening.” Jason Kruk’s drums are powerful and supply the beat, establish the groove, then spur the guitar solo of Adam Rogers ahead like a freight train. The bass of Fima Ephron completes the trio on this tune. They are the same trio that plays on “The Lion,” and a ballad composition simply called “Dad.” I mention this because the players change.

Another song called, “Earth” features a funky bass line, and the final trio song is “Fire” a tune that made me nervous listening to it. This music is a throwback to Kruk’s teen years when he was infatuated with rock bands like Zeppelin, The Who, Deep Purple and Van Halen. I am not a big fan of Rock music.

Kruk has divided this musical concept into three distinct parts with three sets of musicians. The first part features his powerhouse trio and is labeled, “The Music.”  The next part of this album is titled, “The Concept.”  The players are continuously changing, but the drummer, Jason Kruk, is the stabilizer and the constant.

A tune called “The Ox” comes next and it has a wonderful melody, sung by the jazzy tenor saxophone of Brian Donohoe. This time Mike League is laying down his funky electric bass line and Art Hirahara is wailing away on the Fender Rhodes.  This quickly becomes a favorite tune of mine, with Bob Kanzetti on guitar. Jason Kruk slams the drums into place, sometimes double-timing the beat in a way that elevates the energy and kicks the musicians into higher gear. On the verse, they settle down to a slow swing, as if they’re wearing funky, colorful grooves from the 1970s. This particular group of musicians also recorded “Wind” and Kruk’s composition called “Creation.”

The third topic of this album is “The Gratitude.”  But mostly I just hear funk, drive, light and dark energy, mixed with some blustering drum parts by the artist, Jason Kruk, and his various musical players.

Kruk shows amazing power and discipline on the trap drums, along with the creativity and imagination that allows him to compose all twelve songs. This is Rock jazz at an intense level.

JASON KRUK BAND: Jason Kruk, drums/composer; Adam Rogers & Bob Lanzetti, guitar; Wayne Krantz, guitar/ring modulator: Fima Ephron, electric & double bass; Mike League, electric bass; Art Hirahara, Fender Rhodes/piano; Brian Donohoe, tenor saxophone.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

 

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