2010 Fusion

MoeTar were formed in 2008 by the pair of singer Moorea Dickason and bassist Tarik Ragab, who played together in the Funk band No Origin. "From These Small Seeds" is the debut release of MoeTar. The band cited Frank Zappa, Queen, XTC and Classic Prog acts like Yes and Genesis as the main influences. Do we hear these sources in the album? We certainly do. Although they sound more like a modern Gentle Giant, producing quirky, fast and intelligent music, some sort of innovative Avant Pop Prog with Punk and Classical touches. This is genuine music by any means, A.C.T. could be an appropriate comparison, still MoeTar sound a bit more retro-styled in the process, they even cross the borders of bands like Rascal Reporters or The Muffins at moments…

Had Marcus Miller chosen a more fusion-centric path, it's quite possible that he would have become as iconic among fusion heads as Jaco Pastorius or Miroslav Vitous. Miller certainly knows his way around his electric bass, and he probably would have been a great addition to Return to Forever if Stanley Clarke had been unavailable for their 2008 reunion tour and Chick Corea had offered him the gig. But that is speculation, of course. What we can say with certainty is that being hell-bent for fusion is not the path chosen by the highly eclectic, broad-minded Miller, who is as well known for his work with Luther Vandross and for co-writing E.U.'s 1988 funk/go-go hit "Da Butt" as he is for the composing, producing, and playing he did on Miles Davis' Tutu and Amandla albums in the ‘80s.

Fatal Fusion is a progressive rock band from Oslo, Norway. The group got together in early 2008, after emerging from the ashes of several Rock/Blues covers bands. The release of their debut album "Land of the Sun" in 2010 have received great reviews from around the world, and also got them nominated for "best debut album 2010" by Prog Awards. Utilizing classic instruments, synths, mellotron and hammond organ as part of their sound, they pay homage to the progressive rock bands from the 70´s, whilst still aiming to create their own unique sound, blending in elements form different musical genres as rock, metal, blues, jazz, and latin, trying to get a broad musical landscape.

In The Moment is a fourteen track instrumental jazz fusion album, with the exception of the last track, "Can I Count On You", which features vocalists Christopher Cross, Melinda Doolittle, Bill Champlin, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Ron Hemby, and Mandisa. The highlight of the project is definitely the monster rhythm section of drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist, Nathan East, who appear on three tracks; a fourth track with Vinnie, the title cut, is a duo with Tom Hemby on electric guitar.