Track Listing
Tunnels, percy jones - march 1st, 2003, the eyedrum, atlanta, ga
Frank's Beard, marc wagnon, frank katz - march 1st, 2003, the eyedrum, atlanta, ga
Barrio, percy jones - march 3rd, 2003, the rudyard kipling, louisville, ky
Flavor, percy jones - march 1st, 2003, the eyedrum, atlanta, ga
Prisoners of the Knitting Factory hallway, marc wagnon featuring van manakas, guitar - march 2nd, 2003, the sutler, nashville, tn
The Syzygy Incident, marc wagnon - april 1st, 2003, the haunt, ithaca, ny
Wall to Wall Sunshine, marc wagnon, frank katz, john goodsall featuring john goodsall, guitar and mark feldman, violin - june 29th 2003, recorded at nearfest
Lilly's Dolphin, marc wagnon featuring mark feldman, violin - june 29th, 2003, recorded at nearfest
Bad American Dream the 43rd, percy jones, marc wagnon, julien feltin, lance carter featuring lance carter, drums and julien feltin, guitar - october 25th, 2003, the eyedrum, atlanta, ga
Inseminator, percy jones - march 3rd, 2003, the rudyard kipling, louisville, ky
Info
recordingbuckyball music studio, nyc wall to wall sunshine" and "lilly's dolphin"
were recordedby mike potter, orion music studios, md
mixingbuckyball music studio
mixing engineersmarc wagnon, percy jones
producedby marc wagnon
video editing acacia graddy-gamel
photosfred rüeg, yukari morishita of euro rock press, joe del tufo, mark newman, juan joy, linda shulman cover artaline wagnon
After three studio recordings it made sense to put together a live album, as the spontaneity in performance is the true spirit of tunnels. we started recording our shows in 2003 as we made three different tours- crossing the mississippi bathing in the florida sunshine, and getting snowed on in philadelphia; but we were always at home on the stage. this enhanced compact disc was recorded on a laptop (except for the two nearfest recordings), which we lugged around to the different venues. this way we were able to get the best performance of each tune you will hear, including the rare occasions where we were joined along the way by some very special guests. now... are you ready for the art of listening dangerously?
This album is the eagerly anticipated live album of one of progressive jazz’s greatest groups. People have been asking for a Tunnels live album for years, and now they finally have one. Culled from the best live performances of their 2003 United States tour, this album offers all of the crackling energy fans have come to expect from Tunnels live shows in a take-home package. For the fans not content with an electrifying compilation of live performances, the band has generously provided enhancement to the CD-- links to videos of their performances, interviews with the band and concert photographs.
Percy Jones, Marc Wagnon and Frank Katz have been on a three-man jazz crusade for years, but on this CD, they show how well they adapt to playing with other consummate musicians in the field. Guitarists like John Goodsall, Van Manakas and Julien Feltin appear on various tracks. Mark Feldman, who appeared on “Progressivity” to high acclaim, returns to join the band for amazing live performances of “Wall to Wall Sunshine” and “Lilly’s Dolphin” at Nearfest. Lance Carter slips into Katz’s seat for a performance of “Bad American Dream the 43rd” with great aplomb.
As spontaneity in performance is the true spirit of Tunnels, it made sense to put together a live album after 3 studio recordings. This CD is a collaboration from three different tours: crossing the Mississippi, bathing in the Southern sunshine, and getting snowed on in the Northeast- but we were always at home on the stage. This recording also features the late great drummer Lance Carter.
“The Art of Living Dangerously” is a phenomenal album. It showcases the group’s shining strengths-- electric live performances, adaptability, commitment to excellence and a genuine love of performing. The additional enhancements are a tribute from the band to the fans who have stood by them for years, eagerly anticipating the next advance in jazz heralded by Jones, Wagnon and Katz. As usual, with this album, they exceed all expectations.
Reviews quotes:
"The Art of Living Dangerously" is certainly what these crafty, customarily stout musicians have achieved, especially when it comes to creating such a high-spirited, uncompromising album. Those whose impressions of fusion as of late revolves around groups like The Rippingtons, Foreplay or Hiroshima will either run for the hills in shock, or seek out equally adventurous art in awe. By Robert Kaye Abstractlogix.com
“While strong themes abound, the trio feels more openly exploratory than most fusion bands, busy but not self-indulgent. And while everyone contributes strong playing, it is Jones' identifiable and compelling sound that makes The Art of Living Dangerously stand out as a fusion record well worth investigating. By John Kelman Allaboutjazz.com
“Thank you very much for sending me the new Tunnels Live: The Art of Living Dangerously album. I was more than pleased with the performance on this album and
I played it right away on my jazz show as well. I will be charting this at CMJ and it will get multiple spins here at WRAS, Atlanta.” Peter Lewman Program Director WRAS
"...the journey that began with Brand X is culminated in the crew's first live album ever and it's a real valentine to the fans. Tasty hot stuff that true believers will know is the real deal." By Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap
“The band’s upbeat and at times, riveting modus operandi is centered upon the energy or aura, that often emanates from the “live concert” vibe. They were obviously pumped up for the occasion. Glen Astarita Jazzreview .com
Full Reviews
・Pickup from the Tunnells' 2003 tour centered on the southern United States. At the time of the interview in the April issue of this magazine, the drums were replaced by Lance Carter, but before that, it was from the days of Frank Katz (Carter also participated in one song). In the gig I watched in Tokyo before the interview, I was able to enjoy the dense performance itself, in which the three members formed a wonderful triangle, but this one still retains the obsceneness of the session, and guitar Van Manakas and Vai A wide sound world is unfolding, in which guest musicians such as Orin's Mark Feldman are also unrestrainedly assertive. Even so, the reason why a thick core is definitely passed through is because everyone's direction is integrated in the fundamental rhythm part, and an unshakable sense of power is expressed on the foundation, so no matter how tricky the play comes out, totality There is no loss. The performance, which is not bound by the concept of a musician who knows all the groove's acupoint, is really ear-catching regardless of the style. Japanese review
There's a fantastic Weather Report type opening complete with chants and crowd noises (think "Black Market") at the start of this Tunnels live album mostly culled from a couple of month's gigs early in 2003, that then closes down into a dark funky groove giving the composer, Percy Jones, full licence to wow us with his amazing contra-Jaco technique of solid low end anchoring and colourful high end embellishment. Marc Wagnon seems to be everywhere at once, bewildering us with a suitcase full of vibes effects. He is a master of disguise. Frank Katz is a good groove meister, but he messes up a fill when seguing into double tempo early on and has the sense not to try that trick again when doubling up later on - his long-term performance with the band has improved but he sometimes seems over-stretched. Perhaps he hasn't got the same size of chops as his bandmates. Anyway, the audience rightly receive this powerhouse track with the obligatory whoops, yells amd yeehaas, as is their want.
The second track has some magical moments too. Penned by Wagnon and Katz they conjour a John McLaughlin's "Free Spirits"-like angular groove between keyboards patch and drums, but most of the album's writing credits thankfully go to Wagnon and Jones, probably a direct result of which are the subsequent numerous standout moments, some due to guest artists who feature on a large minority of the tracks. In particular you have to single out guitarist Van Manakas who appears of Wagnon's "Prisoner's of the Knitting Factory Hallway". A few years after his last studio recording with Tunnels and he's back on stage a completely different animal. Perhaps the live setting gives him the space to really stretch out, perhaps he's been practising! Who knows? But whatever he's been doing, he returns with new fire and a great tone, lightning fast runs and an arsenal of choice comping licks. The obvious comparison is with John McLaughlin, but Van Manakas, at least for this short outing, is THAT good. The other thing about this particularly tuneful and memorable track is that it has me desperately searching to find out what other song it reminds me of so strongly, I find myself automatically reaching for Stanley Clarke, but "Silly Putty" it ain't, and it's not on the dubious "Fuse One" recording. Hmmmm, ... I wonder if anyone else can do any better. Other guests include off-and-on Tunnels, and long-term Brand X guitarist John Goodsall on one track, and exciting violinist Mark Feldman on two. Of interest, but a bit pointless, is a noodling space guitar jam, the only recording from the second half of the year, and also the only one with a replacement drummer, Lance Carter, as well as a different guest guitarist, Julien Feltin. The resulting sound is so different from the Tunnels norm that all we really get is a reminder of the adaptability of Jones and Wagnon. Oh, and how they might sound with a really good drummer! Which leads nicely to the terminal track "Inseminator", another funky Jones number, including a "not bad" Katz drum solo, and a mercifully short applause outro, 'cos that's not why we listen to live performances The John McLaughlin Archives Julian F. Derry
As spontaneity in performance is the true spirit of tunnels, this live album is a collaboration of three different tours and features 5 special guests. 'the journey that began with brand x culminated in the crew's first live album ever and it's a real valentine to the fans. tasty hot stuff that true believers will know is the real deal.' (midwest records recap)