“Jeff Lorber Fusion and Miles Davis were playing some of the same festivals back then, so I got to hear him play.” For his part, Stern offered, “To be honest, I was aware of him, and had heard a bunch of good things, but I had never really checked him out. “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” said the keyboardist, who was touring hard in support of his hit records Wizard Island and It’s a Fact in those analog days. Mostly an uptempo effort, it has a couple of downbeat grooves to give it balance.GRAMMY Award-winning keyboardist/composer/producer Jeff Lorber recalls seeing guitarist Mike Stern during his much-ballyhooed tenure with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s.
If you are after some variety in your playlist, Prototype is an album that you will definitely add.
River Song is just the right cool-down after 40 minutes of funk. So, after nine tracks, we get one downtempo track. Park West is a track that sits tight in that pocket. Gucci brings back that pace, and you could actually remix this to rival some of the best house music tracks that are out right now. The Badness and Hidden Agenda are two tracks that break down the tempo….just a little, but they each feature Lorber’s outstanding keyboard riffs. Lorber describes it as a bebop feeling, and it is a tribute to Porgy and Bess, a club in Vienna where the band loves to play. There is no subtlety here, as all of the instruments are played at a fast pace. Vienna is a classic Jeff Lorber Fusion track. What’s The Deal gives us a little Tower Of Power flavor, and if you don’t know what I am referring to, go listen to the Back To Oakland album, and you will understand. It also has a little rock infusion to give it a unique sound. Test Drive is up next, and it has that “Killer Joe” type of beat. Dave Mann plays the Sax on the track, and Michael Thompson gives us that solo at the end….kinda rock-ish, and I like it! Make no mistake, I am not talking about those “My baby left me” blues. The title track, Prototype, has a bluesy feel to it. East gets a credit on this album, and Lorber gets their lead single. Actually the song was written for East’s latest release, Reverence, but Jeff liked it so much he kept it for himself! I think the result turned out ok. Nathan East makes a guest appearance on this track. Since then, in addition to the solo and the Fusion albums, Jeff has also produced artists, such as Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, and Rick Braun, just to name a few. In 1982, Lorber released his first solo effort, It’s A Fact.
In 1980, the band featured an up-and-coming artist….Kenny G. Jeff Lorber Fusion has been around since 1977, releasing their self titled album that year. What would a jazz album be without the guest appearances? Nathan East, Chuck Loeb, Larry Koonse, Paul Jackson Jr., and Dave Mann add to the star power here. They provide a nice, ten-track effort that will be a staple in your daily playlist. When I say high-energy, I mean this album could actually replace your morning coffee! The main players are back: Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak, and joining the fray on this project is veteran Andy Snitzer. Jeff Lorber Fusion is back with another high-energy funk album.