HBC

So, the first Jeff Berlin album I got hip to back in mid 80's was Vox Humana. It was the first time I heard Scott Henderson. I was like "WOW" This is some amazing stuff! Jeff to me is kind of like Jack Bruce on steroids, in his own way, but definitely the flavor. I have seen Hendrix 5 times, Zappa , probably 50 or more times, Jeff Beck, SRV, Mahavishnu,Van HAlen, you name them, Ive seen most everybody. But man, that album really turned my head. It was SO different. Shortly after that, I got to see Jeff's band at Hop Singh's in Santa Monica. When I went, Scott had left the band and been replaced by none other than Frank Gambale, who totally blew my mind also. I spoke with Frank after the show and he suggested I enroll at GIT. The following year I did and got to see Scott Henderson Gary Willis Frank Gambale Jeff Berlin and a plethera of other great great musicians all the time, and take classes from them as well. Since then I have followed all these guys through the years, I own almost everything Scott has done, alot of what Jeff has done, and so many things with Dennis on them from Tower of Power to big band to Scofield to funk-Parliament and these three guys are some of my absolute most favorite musicians on the planet. First of all, nobody gets tone like Scott Henderson. The wild choking the s*** out of the notes, while delivering incredibly thoughtful, tasteful lines, sheer speed with Jeff Beck type artistry with the whammy bar, is incomparable. Jeff's tone-come on-it is to die for. The authority in Jeff's playing is so amazing. He holds it down and plays groove, solos like a mo fo' and is the glue between these other two fabulous players. Dennis Chambers is probably my favorite drummer in the world. The dude is so funky, holds it down, has chops like nobody's business. He is one of those guys that when I hear him on anything, I can pretty much always tell its him because of his signature style. The interplay between these incredible musicians is akin to Cream at the peak of their career. The vibe and the magic shared between these players, just doesn't come along very often. The choice to take songs that were written by other greats like Weather Report and the like and to do them "Their Way" just helps to spotlight the creativity and artistry of HBC. So, avail yourself of this GREAT CD. I hope this review was helpful to you.

This is a pretty energetic effort, and I enjoyed the interplay of the trio. Scott Henderson is great as always, and great arrangements of Weather Report and Wayne Shorter tunes. Good interesting choices for a fusion power trio to tackle.

This is an album by three excellent musicians that really know how to put the music first, despite the fact that they're all amazing virtuosos. The compositions are incredible as are all the solos and interplay. Every time I listen to this album I enjoy it even more.

Very disappointed. Listened to a few snippets of music before purchasing, sounded good. The CD, however, seems to have no real direction or feel for the music.

I love this album, a must have for any Scott Henderson fan. Jazz rock fusion at its best.

I can't get enough of the best music in the world, we are so blessed to have these guys...

Required listening for hearing how Masters interpret a trio setting. This has Scott Henderson showing-off...I mean demonstrating (I don't believe he ever intentionally plays notes just to say "look at me") that he can handle anything from blues to bebop w/ musical conviction. He grooves w/ DC smackingly. I haven't heard much from Jeff B in years, but his tone is beautifully humongous, groovin' and as comfortable as your favorite worn in shoes, and did I mention his tone...killer, really it is something many will be enticed to try and copy!! Mr. Dennis Chambers is groovin like he always does, but I didn't realize he can lay back and swing and still have that DC spice that keeps it all identifiable as Dennis. This should be a staple in everyone's collection of threading the needle of high level fusionopoly the HBC way. This recording will probably go up in value as the years pass by, and it becomes harder to get.

Wow! There's really no need to listen to anything else for the rest of the year. top notch musicianship and choice of material-everything from Herbie Hancock to weather report performed by the most incredible power trio in years.

Un superbe trio très électrique, volume et virtuosité, tout est parfait, compositions du trio et reprises de Weather Report, de Herbie Hancock et de Billy Cobham. Le retour en force de la Fusion Jazz-Rock. Superbe album sans point faible.

Very good

Más do mesmo. Ninguna novidade! Muy buenos músicos de excelente qualidad mas sin nada de nuevo. Igual a los outros cd's de Mr. Scott

HBC is Scott Henderson on guitar, Jeff Berlin on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums. This is what we can call a power trio. Jeff Berlin plays electric bass like the late Jaco Pastorius, Dennis Chambers plays like... Dennis Chambers and Scoot Henderson sometimes sounds like the late Allan Holdsworth but is also one of a kind. Very good jazz rock album in the fusion of genders.

2009年に初来日、2011年にも1日だけながら日本公演を行った"Super Fusion Trio"、"Henderson,Berlin,Chambers"初のスタジオ録音盤。 いずれも腕利きのプレイヤー、それぞれの楽器の「マエストロ」。 前述の公演ではインプロビゼーション主体の手に汗握る演奏を繰り広げていたけれど、 本作はガラリと方向性を変え、あくまで「スタジオアルバム」として緻密に作り上げているのがポイント。 初出の新曲、ヘビーブルースの７は来日公演でも披露されていたもの、 ８はJeff Berlinによるソロ演奏ということで基本的には各地で行われたライブで演奏された曲が中心となっている。 しかし本作ではよりスタジオワークを重視した内容となっていて、 スコットヘンダーソンがクリアートーン、そしてお馴染みMaxon SD9(本アルバムのSolo時のメインはFulltone Plimsoul)等の歪み系サウンド、 ディレイを使った空間系のサウンドを巧みに重ね、 Jazz Fusionの名曲をまたひと味違う形で聴かせてくれる。 ソロになれば毎度の如くインタープレイが繰り広げられるが、 Weather ReportやHarbie Hancockらの名曲を多重録音で、できる限り忠実に再現しているところに最大の妙味がある。 Tribal Techでもお馴染みの「Actual Proof」ではまるでエレクトリックピアノのようなトーンで、 Mysterius TravellerやD Flat Waltzといった曲では、Joe Zawinulによる複雑なシンセサウンドのレイヤーをカラフルに再現しており、 シンプルなギターの鳴りやサウンドを追求してきた1990年代後半以降の"スコヘン"とは全く事なるアプローチを見せてくれている。 カバー曲はいずれも珠玉の出来だが、 特に必聴なのはやはりWeather Reportの名曲の数々。 Tribal Tech時代にはScott KinseyとのDuetで、ソロ活動以降はギターソロで演奏していたJoe Zawinulの傑作バラード、 「The Orphan」にはJeff Barlinによるテーマと、Scott Hendersonの妻であるSanyaと2人の娘Angelaによるコーラスが重ねられ、 原曲の美しさを見事に再現していて舌を巻く。 私的にはJoe Zawinulへの敬意も込めてこの曲をベストトラックに推したい。 本作のエンジニアを務めているのはXに続いてTribal TechのScott Kinseyだが、 サウンドメイクの能力とセンスは、本作の方がより生きているようだ。 彼の貢献もまた本作の高い完成度に大きく影響している。 もしもギターフュージョン（なるジャンルがあればだが）が好きな人なら、 間違いなく聴いて損はない1枚、聴く価値のある「本物の」1枚だとお薦めしたい。