Gary Husband's Force Majeure
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Drummer, composer and pianist Gary Husband brought all of these strands of his talent together for an amazing project - featuring a stellar cast of international players - under the name Force Majeure.
Gary Husband is perhaps best known as the explosive rhythmic force behind cult fusion virtuoso guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and similarly to Holdsworth he has struggled to gain the success his vast talents deserve. Husband of late however has revealed his awesome abilities as a pianist and composer, the fact that Billy Cobham has become his regular drummer in his piano trio speaks volumes. Husband went back behind the kit to lead this musically muscle-bound band – a genuine Force Majeure – that included the uber-talents of Jerry Goodman (electric violin), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Elliot Mason (trombone), Jim Beard (keyboards), Matt Garrison (bass), and Arto Tuncboyaciyan (percussion).
Their first tour not only showcased Husband's good taste as an arranger of choice pieces by Bjork, John McLaughin and Burt Bacharach constituting the first half of the evening but also as a exceptional composer, the evening’s second half a Jazz On 3 commissioned piece of four suites. A hard hitting night of virtuosic playing and compositional atom splitting; they play some heavy and heady stuff. Blowing away all who heard this project’s debut at the QEH in 2005, far from simply showcasing his abilities as an exceptional drummer and pianist; he spent half the gig conducting his densely textural compositions from the front of the stage. Bass virtuoso Matt Garrison will be back, and the legendary, high-arching trumpet of Randy Brecker will head-up the front line once again.
Their first tour not only showcased Husband's good taste as an arranger of choice pieces by Bjork, John McLaughin and Burt Bacharach constituting the first half of the evening but also as a exceptional composer, the evening’s second half a Jazz On 3 commissioned piece of four suites. A hard hitting night of virtuosic playing and compositional atom splitting; they play some heavy and heady stuff. Blowing away all who heard this project’s debut at the QEH in 2005, far from simply showcasing his abilities as an exceptional drummer and pianist; he spent half the gig conducting his densely textural compositions from the front of the stage. Bass virtuoso Matt Garrison will be back, and the legendary, high-arching trumpet of Randy Brecker will head-up the front line once again.