Tunnels "with Percy Jones"
The re-release of "Tunnels with Percy Jones", the debut recording of this ground-breaking group which is now considered a classic in its genre. the intensity and creativity shown in this recording has led some to regard Tunnels as the best Jazz-Fusion band of today's progressive scene and their debut album a real masterpiece.
Reviews:
“Another renegade bassist, Percy Jones (a charter member of the great British fusion band Brand X) continues his uncompromising ways with Tunnels. Powered by monster drummer Frank Katz, this one is teeming with a kind of gung-ho fierceness and risk taking that hasn't been heard too much since fusion’s heyday. Van Manakas adds some stinging guitar work, particularly on ‘Prisoners of the Knitting Factory Hallway’, an ode to their favorite New York venue. And Marc Wagnon adds rainbows of color and texture with his midi vibes. Everyone in Jones' chops-laden quartet gets a chance to blow on this ferocious, cutting edge slamfest.” Bill Milkowski, Tower Pulse
“Percy Jones has been on the cutting edge for so long, it's a wonder he hasn't been sliced to ribbons by now. Undeterred by commercial considerations, he keeps forging ahead, adding more and more weapons to his arsenal of fretless techniques and writing thick threatening fusion (here performed with guitarist Van Manakas, drummer Frank Katz, and MIDI vibist Marc Wagnon). Jones has said he'll try anything to make the bass sound like it usually doesn't, and he's highly successful at it here.” J.R., Bass Player Magazine
Besides all the technical prowess, "Tunnels" aim to entertain through thoughtful and quite inspiring compositions. This is not about a band who systemically attempt to outdo one another in the chops department yet it is all about getting the most out of their musical gifts and weaving their collective sensibilities into a unified whole! While the intensity levelfrequently resides in the red zone, this band strive to entertain and/or induce the listener's involvement; hence, advocates of fusion and progressive rock should be elated that "BuckyBall Records" decided to release this gem. Highly Recommended Glenn Astarita All About Jazz
Is there such a thing as Jazz Grunge or even Metal Jazz? Tunnels have been described as creating their own category. That's almost true in that many others attempt to play this style of heavy jazz fusion, but Tunnels can boast a pedigree and ability that outdoes most of their competition because of their alarming precision and virtuosity. Perhaps the closest you're going to get to their sound is by comparison with people like Ronny Heimdal and Shawn Lane (on Hellborg's "Personae"), and they certainly have the dense centre found in Tribal Tech, but less bluesy, more progressive, with snippets of orchestration like a parred down Yes. Strong simple melodies allow a lot of space for exploration, like Zawinul heads that let the players really reach out. Percy Jones is simply one of the greatest bass players with awesome technique and a beautiful rich tone that can oscillate from plump sliding throbbing fretless bass, played as if his strings are pylons, to tentative sugar glass-fragile scratches and pops that sew a full and fulfilling sonic tapestry. His skills are well appreciated, noteably he has played on several Brian Eno albums, Roy Harper's "Bullinamingvase", as sideman for Big Jim Sullivan (as has John McLaughlin), on L. Shankar & Caroline's "The Epidemics", and otherwise with everyone from David Sylvian to Suzanne Vega. You will also marvel at the exquisite vibes patch on the keyboard, well not quite. It's actually Marc Wagnon on something called an Electronic Vibes, which i assume has a midi interface and is played with four beaters but like he's not really making contact, more like a expressive pixie dance around a theremin. Very choice playing by him. The simple driving drumlines from Frank Katz work nicely within the rich tapestry of the ensemble, but his technique is very exposed when taking a solo spot, and we get a testosterone fuelled barrage with little dynamic or imagination, in the vein of 1960's Ginger Baker.
Tunnels must provide a really amazing live experience, sometimes adding violin to their ranks or joining Sarah Pillow's group - check out their video clips free to download from the Buckyball Music website. The studio band for this studio recording was a quartet - previous band member Goodsall now concentrates on Brand X leaving Jones and Wagnon to lead Tunnels. Check it out! Julian F. Derry - The John McLaughlin Archives