Is it jazz, or just fusion? As though labels really matter. Recent albums by Dr. Mike Bogle and Charged Particles show the question is trivial at best, and ultimately irrelevant.
These two outings offer contrasting styles with some key commonalities. Both find surprises in their selections and in their instrumentation. First, Let There Be Light by Dr. Mike Bogle includes not only keyboards by the leader, as well as bass and drums (Buddy Mohmed and Harrell Bosarge, respectively), but also features vibes and steel pans.
It might seem that keyboards, steel drums and vibes occupy much of the same sonic space, and thus are likely to bump into one another. Yes, and no. The pieces are arranged in such a way that the instruments complement each other and the songs.
The opening “Voyager’s Dream” makes it obvious that the instrumentation perfectly fits Bogle’s compositions. It starts with an insistent piano riff, soon joined by the steel drums in counterpoint with the melody. The density builds with overdubbed piano and leads into a vibes solo by Dana Sudborough, before Bogle takes his turn. Then Andy Barrus shows how steel pans can indeed make an ideal jazz instrument.
The three solos aptly demonstrate the instruments’ and the players’ strengths. They stand apart from one another, with the jewel-like tones of the vibes leading into the piano. Dr. Mike Bogle’s light touch and flourishes elevate the song further. Barrus’s steel drums recede a bit in the mix, allowing the listener to either dig in or simply let the music wash over you.
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