I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In Focus, by Jason Arkins, and it's an aggressive fusion set. Opening with Mister Behaving, with it's stirring instrumental backing and whirling rhythms, Jason Arkins on sax sets a somewhat sedate melody as a baseline, with Beau Cornelius on piano, Leo Folsom on synths, and with Mike Ramos and Jack Dratch on bass and drums respectively chomping at the bit to run. Arkins leads the crew on a really strong adventure sonically in his second pass with tight rhythmic piano work by Cornelius and Folsom lays in a very cool synth solo of his own. Ramos never takes his foot off the throttle with a great bass line and Dratch's riffs are hot. Strong opener. Cut Scene opens with a preponderance of something to come with an easy melody and tight rhythm. Dratch kicks the track up a notch with rimshots and Cornelius on electric piano gives the track air. Arkins has a full out call and response with Folsom on synths and Ramos and Dratch are at the end of their leashes again. Very hot. Wrapping the release is forward moving, A Squeegee Situation with Arkins setting a distinct melody on sax paired with Ramos. The first break Arkins really takes a soulful turn with excellent melodic solo phrasing and I gotta say Ramos is always in earshot and I love it. Dratch never misses a beat and with the 2 key players, this track always has body. Ramos gets a chance to talk a nice walk and it's one of my favorite spots on the release. This is a definite one to catch if you like melodic fusion.
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