7/11/2008
Robert Baglione’s Powerhouse Project –
Fitzgerald’s, Berwyn, Illinois USA, 2006-09-22
If you’re a fan of fusion guitar, then you’re in for a treat. Robert Baglione, who’s played with Victor Wooten and Oteil Burbridge, among countless others, is one of the today’s finest practitioners of that genre. If you’re a fan of Scott Henderson/Tribal Tech, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale and Mike Stern, do yourself a favor, and grab this! Carl Coan, who’s gigs included Bo Diddley, Frankie Avalon and The Platters, among others, is an incredible force on the saxophone and EWI, with phenomenal chops very reminiscent of the late great Michael Brecker. Alan Eicher (Brandon Fields, The Drifters) on the keys, is an awesome talent to watch in the future, that brings to mind, a young Chick Corea. Bassist James Cammack takes a break from his lone time gig with Ahmad Jamal, to play some heavy-duty fusion. But the real treat here is the presence of drum master, and Berklee Collage of Music professor, Kenwood Dennard (Miles Davis, Pat Martino, Jaco Pastorius & Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Jordan, Gil Evans, Brand X) who continues to amaze and inspire countless drummers worlwide. Woody was truly incredible, and the crowd very appraciative. I’ll remember this gig as long as I live. It was one of the best I’ve ever been to. Hope you all dig it!!!
Dr. Fusion’s blog
Just got Positive Charge—rocks!!!!!!! You play better Stern than he does!!!! Great Henderson sound also!!!!!! Great Band!!!! Fusion Lives!!!
– John Zbodula- NY
“Get into the Baglione Man now! If you want to hear Mike Stern and Scott Henderson rolled into one set of fingers, look no further. This cat is under-the-radar killer fusion. Recommended!”
~ John W. Patterson of www.JazzRock-Radio.com and EER-MUSIC.com
Bob,
I’ve been listening to Positive Charge. It’s clear that you are an excellent guitar player and writer.
Your drummer Tom Hipskind sounds good too. It’s good to hear Jimmy Cammack on a fusion record. I always liked playing with him when I toured with Ahmad Jamal………..
All the Best,
Steve Smith – Journey/ Vital Information
Hi Bob,
……Great playing, composing and producing. I really like the various combination of players and the songs feature everyone really nicely….Best of luck with the project. You went for the music and that’s the most important thing from my perspective. Thanks for keeping the music alive!
– Mark Egan -Bassist w/Pat Methany
Bob,
The sound files are outstanding! A good friend and fellow guitarist, Dan Peterson, turned me on to your music.
Best regards,
Rick Owens
Hey man…I finally got a chance to listen to your CD. It’s killing! Lots of great playing on there – I could listen to Kirk Covington all day long. I listened to it during an 8-hour car trip to Mobile, AL and had a blast.
Bryan Beller-Bassist w/Steve Vai
I received your CD today, and the only word that comes to mind in ‘Monster!’ Mind boggling.
Michael Farley – Farley’s Musical Essentials
“Hey Robert, all I can say is “WOW”–You are not your everday guitarist.”
Rich Bandoni – Nady Systems
Hi Robert, …………….. Love your CD Positive Charge and the song Island Park is the BOMB………..
Live 365 Internet Radio
Peace, Richard
Hey Bob, hope all is well. I like your website and your snips of your CD. You have a great sound as well as a great concept…..Keep on doing what you do, it sounds great. ………. your music has what I always missed in fusion and thats a lot of soul.
Keith Henderson
As Reviewed in the Illinois Entertainer 10/31/05
Chicago fusion guitarist Robert Baglione lets it all hang out on his latest release, Positive Charge. This is jazz fan and musician-oriented music, full of odd, funky grooves, long solos, and chops aplenty. There are also guest spots by heavy hitters like Victor Wooten, Bill Dickens, and Kirk Covington. Baglione has world-class guitar skills and will appeal to those who appreciate music for its own sake. (www.robertbaglione.com)
– Mike O’Cull
Currents from the July/August 2006 issue of JazzTimes Magazine
ROBERT BAGLIONE
Positive Charge (Mechanics ‘N Music)
Proof positive that this is a musician’s project comes with “Bagabob,” written by tenor saxophonist Carl Coan. Coan gets his chance to show his chops, but only after Tom Hipskind’s meticulous two-and-a-half minute drum solo. That’s a compelling example of teamwork on Chicago guitarist Robert Baglione’s hard-charging mix of fusion and bop with a hearty dollop of jam-band ethos.
Baglione’s edgy electric guitar rides over the playing of his band, which includes Victor Wooten on bass and Joseph Wooten and Leandro Lopez Varady on keys and synth. Classic fusion jamming is the theme, but when Baglione takes time to breathe and slow things down is when the music shines. On the late Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue,” for example, Baglione tones down its Latin aspects to bring a fresh shine to the classic. Bassist Bill Dickens ensures it’s memorable by pounding away on a seven-string bass—and rest assured he uses each one. Also compelling are Baglione’s angular, sexy guitar lines à la Jeff Beck on “The Undecided” and his smooth classical guitar on the relaxing “Green Miles.”
Positive Charge may only get heard by jazz cats in the audience when Baglione plays his frequent gigs around the Windy City, but it’s worth wider listening by those seeking a taste of meaty fusion.
-Brian Soergel
Your playing is fantastic. I am a forty year old music fan of jazz and the rock and the others…Always liked the Rush guitar player Lifeson…and then Zappa/SRV…and then the jazz guys from there.
Having heard Holdsworth for about 20 some years…I always wondered if he’d get some good sax players with him for a record…I don’t think he has that I can think of—maybe on some Wackerman solo.
And being a Zappa fan, I loved the Brecker brothers and their horns…Carl is awesome also.
In a nut shell…your CD Positive Charge is a dandy. And the bass players are special…so good.
– Doug Meyer –
I received the CD last week. It’s awesome. It reminds me a little of Tribal Tech in parts, just great blowing, great tunes and great players. Look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
– Mark Yates –
(from Greater Manchester, UK)
Hey Robert,
I’ve had your Cd for some time now and I want to tell you how great it is.There are some great tunes on there as well as some fantastic contributions from all the musicians.Your playing reminds me of a turbo charged Scott Henderson which is saying something!
The first track is reminiscent of Tribal Tech especially the guitar tone and the driving 16th notes from the bassist which brings to mind Gary Willis ( no bad thing!).All in all a great Cd which I like very much,thanks.
Best wishes to you,
Mark Yates (UK)
(This is a review from Japan. The original is below the English translation. -rb-)
Subject: “Positive Charge” CD Review
This is the album which (was) made by a studio guitarist from Chicago
I’ve never heard his name but it seems he has a long career as far as I can see in his profile.
From first tune he plays the melody by guitar synthesizer like
(HOLDSWORTH)??(sp)
On his solo, he plays out and really fast with the distortion tone.
After that there are tricky and very technical tunes which are based on
rock, funk and jazz but his way making the sound is never away from a royal road of the
fusion.
Guest rhythm section, Kirk Covington(drums) and Victor Wooten(bass)
play tight, too and other players also play in high level.
If you like Tone Center guitar-fusion with typical hard core
guitar-fusion sound, you can enjoy this album.
It may be difficult to get this albums but you can buy on his web or
CD baby.
(Original review in Japanese)
Comments from: Bass Musicians Magazine Worlwide Review
Positive Charge is a great CD featuring hip listenable compositions, great playing, memorable melodic tunes, lots of interesting musical twists, and funky tight grooves. To me, this CD represents what fusion should be. Baglione is a monster guitarist who for years has gigged with many top jazz artists and is now (finally) becoming well known in his own right. He has the rare good musical sense to focus on the music instead of showboating his amazing chops to excess which is too often the case these days.
Although all the players here are virtuoso level jazz lions, they play as an ensemble and every note services the song and the music. The result is a powerful, melodic and uplifting CD.
Victor Wooten on bass……. need I say more? His playing adds funk, groove, sass, and greatly contributes to the overall good vibe on this project. James Cammack is another great bass player who shines on this CD. Both players provide a textbook example of how to hold down the groove and propel the ensemble by infusing their wonderful musical personalities. Great sax, drums and keyboards round out the project.
Positive Charge is a great name for this CD because you feel re-charged with positive energy after listening to these very musical grooves. As in life, it’s amazing what people can do when they work together toward the greater good without regard to individual egos. If you are looking for intelligent, melodic and uplifting music, check out Positive Charge.
Posted by: dan peterson | March 25, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Correction to my earlier review……We can’t leave Bill Dickens out of the discussions about Positive Charge. He provides some excellent bass soloing on a couple of tunes also. The addition of Dickens, who is another great bass player contributing along with Victor Wooten and Jimmy Cammack make this CD an all star bass player convention.
Posted by: dan peterson | March 25, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Radio Airplay:
XM Satellite Radio, Jazz Transfusion with Barry Winograd WXRT 93.1 FM Chicago, IL, Upbeat & More MP# PRO-Live 365 Internet Radio, Bitches Brew/PBS-Melbourne, Australia, Midwest Music Makers with Denny Garcia KGRR 97.3 FM Dubuque, Iowa