Tunnels, Painted Rock

Far more layered recording from power jazz outfit Tunnels than their self-titled debut, still showing the same amazing virtuoso interplay and strength of composition, but meanwhile adding a further depth to their music. Although released in the same year as their initial outing, "Painted Rock" immediately displays a more relaxed approach in Marc Wagnon's highly catchy and hummable opening title track, expertly spelt out by bass wizard Percy Jones. We might expect nothing less than to marvel at the huge expressiveness of this great player. Perhaps it's because of his, and Wagnon's skills that their colleagues partly fall by the wayside.

Even Frank Katz goes all out on this disk, breaking his straight ahead drumming mold and righting many of the wrongs from the first recording; peaking in his drum-led, other-worldly "neuro-transmitter", that is until his disasterous solo that closes the album, in which he falls straight back into predictable, heavy-handed, unimaginative, snare bombardment - ironic given that the track is called "Improvisation".

Van Manakas was also unimaginative on the first recording, vacuous guitar solos journeys that amounted to nothing more than a short spin around the block. If you have the luxury of "jazz space" what's the point in knocking out a 4-bar pop solo? Here he now starts exploring that space more productively and the result is astonishing, especially on Wagnon's "House of Marc". In fact, credit where credit's due; the standout highlight here has got to be Van Manakas & Co.'s short but very sweet arabesque "boyz in the ud" - a punchy, shoulder-rocking, head-spinning, Dervish-whirler that although clearly is never going to sound like an authentic world music, certainly broadens Van Manakas' musical pallete while spelling potential new ground for the group. Also note the introduction of vocals from angel-voiced Sarah Pillow. Go join the musical journey and get this second release from Tunnels.