Those with good memories will recall Ray Harris and The Fusion Experience from the 12” ‘Scaramunga’ on Glasgow’s Buff Records back in 2005 (see review HERE) but since then, a full album was released in Japan on the ever impressive P-Vine label but now, at last, it’s now out here.

If you like jazz fusion and funk, this band of Steff McCluskey (bass), Tony Soave (drums) and leader, producer, singer, keyboardist Ray Harris deliver just what you need.

The CD kicks off with a ‘Scaramunga’ re-edit that’s even better than the original but don’t stop there, ‘The Sioux’ is on the war path and it’s pure 100mph Latin-jazz dance action with killer sax solo by Konrad Wisnieksi and I swear, that sounds like a live guitar solo. But there’s no doubt on the acid jazzy organ bongo boogie instrumental of ‘Interpretation’ with Uri Stav on electric guitar.

A little slower (but not much) is the “do, la, do” theme tune shuffle of ‘Origin’ that’s a bit Rio and then to proper jazz-bass trump of ‘Tokyo Blue’ that gets into a real car chase as Ray tinkles the ivories with purpose.

And if you’re into stuff that’s sounds like the early days of Brit-jazz-funk, the “higher power” of ‘Freedom’ is just the thing. Ray gets to sings on the 60s organ jazzer ‘One Of A Kind’ and his Scotch gargled voice is just the right rough contrast to Susie Palmers backing vocals (plus Konrad’s back on this one).

My original thoughts on hearing the ‘Scaramunga’ re-edit was that the rest of the album was bound to be a disappointment but that’s far from the truth as it’s brilliant all the way thorough; although ‘There’s Nothing Like You’ is a bit of a departure. And then the CD ends up with the Sidewinder Remix of ‘Scaramunga’ and the only cover version, a very jazz trio version of The Doors’ ‘Riders On The Storm’ that’d blow Carlos Niño’s ‘pyschedelic cosmic love from California’ all the way to Glasgow!

There was a time when all albums sounded like this (well loads anyway) but with The Fusion Experience you can have your very own night at the Jazz Rooms every night!

Forthcoming Gigs:
10th to 11th July 2009 - Marlborough Jazz Festival, Wiltshire
11 July 2009 - The Yardbird, Birmingham
12 July 2009 - Hi Fi Club, Leeds

Reviewed: The Ray Harris & Fusion Experience - Ray Harris & The Fusion Experience (Fusion Music) Cat. No: FMR008 Release date: May 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Scaramunga (Re-Edit) (4:27)
2 The Sioux (4:36)
3 Freedom (4:47)
4 Origin (4:04)
5 Tokyo Blue (6:40)
6 One Of A Kind (4:04)
7 My Last Chance (5:15)
8 Interpretation (5:23)
9 There’s Nothing Like You (5:28)
10 Scaramunga (Remix) (5:07)
11 Riders On The Storm (recorded live in Glasgow) (8:41)

As a ‘Thought for the Day’ side note, I’ve been told a couple of times recently by folks in the know that due to the current financial climate, it’s likely that in Europe it’s only going to be downloads for a while as physical CDs will only be issued in Japan; so if you can, buy CDs or lose them.

Links:
www.myspace.com/thefusionexperience
www.last.fm/music/Ray Harris & The Fusion Experience
www.fusionmusicrecordings.com
www.p-vine.com
From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History Of The UK Jazz Dance Scene - Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove (Book)
Glasgow Jazz Festival 13th - 19th June
Messin’ Around 13th Birthday Party on Saturday 6th June! DJs (and Founders) Adrian Gibson and our own livin’ legend Perry Louis will be taking to the decks to spin that Messin’ Around sound which has seen us through 13 years, 5 Compilation CDs and various Limited Edition Vinyl publications. Oldskool classics and newskool gems alike, those 2 will pack the night out with anything that’s good and danceable: from Funk to Boogie, from Latin to Afrobeat, from JazzFunk to Soul, with a touch of Dancefloor Jazz thrown in. And of course, the JazzCotech Dancers will take to the stage round midnight in the Messin’ Around tradition!
Messin’ Around 13th Birthday Bash ~ Saturday 6 June, 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street ~ 11pm - 3am ~ £12! JazzCotech Dancers www.jazzcotech.com