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Keyboardist-composer
Thomas Barth is one of those rare individuals who actually
got to realize his dream in this lifetime. Seven Worlds
is proof of that. Consider the long odds:
Barth
was living in Austria at the time he conceived of this project.
As a classically trained pianist from Vienna who had also
taken master classes with jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Joe
Zawinul, he was more than up to the task musically. Plus,
his understanding of marketing gave him an added tool in making
this project happen. With those key factors under control,
Barth turned his attention to sidemen.
But
rather than relying on the hippest players on his home turf,
Thomas went after the impossible dream: former Miles Davis
sideman Mike Stern on guitar and the former Zawinul Syndicate
rhythm section of Mike Baker on drums and Gerald Veasley on
bass.
Through
a combination of naivete and single minded conviction, involving
a barrage of faxes and long distance phone calls, Barth was
able to land each of these heavyweights for his own maiden
voyage. Add saxophonists Craig Handy and Evan Tate to the
mix and you’ve got the makings of a dream team. Miraculously,
they had never played together before but the chemistry clicked
in their intensive sessions together at Platinum Island studios
in New York City.
Stern
is featured on the opening track ”Friends", a beautiful
ballad that showcases the guitarist’s penchant for lyricism
and drama and includes a nice bit of trialogue with guitar,
bass and keyboards.
”Stepping
Out" is a hard-hitting beat-oriented romp with Thomas
outfront wailing with fuzzy-edged synth tones while ”After
The Prayer" conveys a more ethereal Mysterious Traveller
vibe behind Mike Baker’s emotive vocals. Zawinul’s
influence is also apparent on the scintillating title track,
with its sinewy Middle Eastern lines on the intro and joyous
world beat energy bearing the stamp of the Weather Report
founder. Zawinul’s former bandmates Veasley and Baker
even commented on the ”Joe vibe" that they had all
conjured up in the studio during the recording of ”Seven
Worlds." As Thomas explains, ”It’s hard not
to be influenced by him. But the challenge here was to pay
homage to Joe without getting too close to his orbit."
While homage is apparent, Barth clearly establishes his own
identity on both of these tracks through his personalized
‘singing’ approach to the keyboard.
"Turquoise"
is a seductive smooth jazz feature for tenor saxophonist Craig
Handy. And the three-part ”Manhattan Suite," particularly
the third section, is an opportunity for Handy and Stern to
unleash on a heavy groove laid down by Baker and Veasley.
The tense, high vibrancy of this pulsating track captures
the essence of the city itself. Barth considers this extended
piece to be a work in progress and plans to add an urban edge
to the suit with rappers and DJs.
His
beat-oriented version of Stevie Wonder’s ”I Wish"
should register with radio programmers while the touching
”Gentle Souls" is more close to home. This soothing
track employs sampled whale sounds that when transposed up
an octave take on the characteristic of a newborn baby’s
cry. Nadeen Holloway, a New Yorker living in Vienna at the
time, is the featured vocalist on this profoundly personal
track.
Barth
credits Erich Zawinul, Joe’s son, for being the catalyst
in putting this dream band together. And Thomas, wisely, left
the music open enough so that it would take on a life of its
own once the musicians met in the studio to begin dealing.
”The ultimate concept of that record was to write the
music with the players in mind," he says. ”And it
was a first time working situation for everyone. So the vibe
and the feel of the music had to be a perfect mesh, because
we didn’t have a lot of time to waste."
After
the sessions went down in four sleepless, exhilarating days
and nights in the heart of Manhattan, Barth was overjoyed.
”Those were the most energetic and passionate four days
of my life," he says. ”Everyone was into the music
and the spirits were high all the time."
Now
transplanted to the Big Apple, Thomas Barth plans to immerse
himself in the Manhattan jazz scene he so admires. Meanwhile,
there is Seven Worlds to savor. Barth’s success
is our gain.
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