Tunnels, Tunnels with Percy Jones

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.

Guitarist Van Manakas is unfortunately the weakest link here with slightly uninspired guitar breaks but some quite nice space playing in tow behind the jugonaught when the others get going, and impressive sliding licks particularly towards the end of his solos.

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!