Shimizu, Bob

Signal Strength, 2009, CD
Instrument: Drums

Issue: 15.3

Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
O's Jazz Ruler

Performance: 4
Performance Chart

Sound: 4
Sound Chart

Score:
Score Chart

O’s Notes: Guitarist Bob Shimizu leads Signal Strength, a quartet with David Vinson Mills (p, organ, synths), Michael King (b) and Larry Kantor (d). Tony Chuba appears on percussion. Shimizu wrote and produced all thirteen tracks they are mostly upbeat cool jazz-fusion. They heat up on “Loop 101” with Bob and David splitting the melody and Michael laying down a deep bass line. The title track has more of a rock-fusion bent before they switch to a calypso groove on “In Harm’s Way”. They slow down midway through the set but come back to life on “Samba Juana Anna”, one of the best of the session along with the Latin-based “Pedro Likes Your Girlfriend”. “King Michael” features King along with Kantor in a funky number. We enjoyed the variety and spice.

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Publicist: Lisa Reedy Promotions