Mark Stanley Quartet: "Humans"

When I first received Mark Stanley’s CD “Humans”, I was warned that it was a “little out of the ordinary” and that it may not be suitable for a JGL review. Well, it is definitely a “little out of the ordinary”, but there is some excellent guitar playing by Mark Stanley that indeed warrants a review by JGL. So that being said, here we go.

First, let me start off by stating that Mark Stanley plays some superb guitar. His style, as evident on this CD, is an eclectic mix of modern-day fusion, straight ahead jazz, and free form with single lines that are quick, fluid, and always intense. With a cutting, oft-times screaming guitar tone that varies between clean and overdriven, Stanley’s playing can be best compared to Wayne Krantz and/or Adam Rogers. In fact, the collective sound is quite reminiscent of the group Lost Tribe which featured guitarists Adam Rogers and David Gilmore back in the ‘90’s. And while Stanley plays a major role in shaping the sound of the quartet through his eclectic playing and compositional endeavors, saxophonist Peter Fraize, bassist Jeff reed, and drummer Mike Kuhl contribute greatly to the melodic-harmonic textures and sonic energy that makes the Mark Stanley Quartet a fiery union.

This way-out ride gets underway with the tune “cat cat cat” and doesn’t stop until the last tune “diaspora” featuring Stanley soloing over the changes on a smooth sounding acoustic. Actually, the titles of the tunes should be somewhat of a give away as to what to expect musically. With titles like “god on a stick”, “blue octopus”, “horribly helga”, “small face”, “pussy”, “paramour”, and the title track “humans”, you can pretty well be assured that the musical content of the CD will be a “little out of the ordinary”. But don’t judge a book by its cover as they say. There’s some seriously excellent music happening on this CD which should not be dismissed by Stanley’s distinctiveness.

Speaking of the tunes, the first cut “cat cat cat”, starts off with a delicate intro that doesn’t last too long before the group kicks it into high gear with a bouncy melody that will stick in your mind long after the tune is over. Odd meters abound in this tune, as they do on many of the tunes on the CD, as each member gets to shine on their respective instruments showcasing a tight and spirited effort by all concerned. Fraize, then Stanley, get to soar through the tune with a hyper creativeness that speaks of a deep knowledge, understanding, and commitment to modern-day Jazz improvisation. Stanley’s solo is forceful as he lunges into a frenzied cluster of “vocalized” overdriven notes that reminds me of all people, early Steve Vai. This is not meant as a put down but rather a perceptive nod to the importance of influences that Stanley brings to the table. Steve Vai may or may not have had an influence on Stanley’s playing, but what I hear and get from Stanley’s playing is that the energy, intensity, and attitude of rock can have a valued place amongst the harmonic and melodic sophistication of Jazz, especially when played by a group of guys with wide open minds and ears. Kind of like a raw Allan Holdsworth.

The remaining tunes on the CD pursue the same attitude as the above as Stanley and Fraize grab onto the harmonic landscape of each tune and basically tear into it with ferocity and excitement. There are even some bluesy moments apparent during the head of the tune “small face”. That is, until it explodes into an almost punk-jazz break that really shakes things up before settling down into a nice groove allowing Fraize to do his thing. Great stuff!

If you are looking for something a little different or you are seeking out jazz guitar music that features no holes barred improvisation centered around memorable melodies, odd-meters, frantic improvisations, tight arrangements, and of course great guitar playing then definitely check out Mark Stanley and his quartet. He may be a “little out of the ordinary”, but in this case that’s a good thing.

Go to www.markstanley.net to purchase "Humans" or to see what else Mark Stanley has to offer.

Lyle Robinson