Blue Man

Take equal measures of Gallagher and Kraftwerk, mix in a 15-year supply of blue body paint and shake with a double-shot of modern marketing savvy and you might have something akin to Blue Man Group. This ambitious second album by New York performance artists cum entrepreneurs Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink expands their central artistic contradiction–mainstreaming the alternative–with a propulsive cocktail of rhythm, irony, self-invented instrumentation, and bona fide song structures that feature turns from guest stars Dave Matthews (the music hall dirge "Sing Along") and Tracy Bonham ("Up to the Roof," and with Rob Swift, "Shadows Pt.2"). The conceit is vaguely reminiscent of the Tubes' tongue-in-cheek ode to '80s corporate rock, "The Completion Backwards Principle," right down to being so convincing the irony often melts away. Fans of their live performances will appreciate its wall-to-wall rhythmic thrust and quirky textures, while aficionados and newcomers alike should welcome its surprising, seductive melodies and mature songwriting.

Steve Khan's second release was a self-produced/arranged gem. It was similar in many respects to his prior debut, yet fans will probably recall this release as their all-around favorite from Steve Khan's '70s era recordings. The horn section and solos are still there, but Khan does more conversational soloing with the reed lines. This is especially evident on "An Eye Over Autumn," and its fusion jam-fest.
The Blue Man might seem, overall, tighter, focused, and polished, and Khan's guitar tone more overdriven, more jazz rocking, and intensely penetrating in solos and intricate ostinato embellishment around song themes. The delicate reverb, delay, and crystal-clear tones on his solos are rarely heard done so well these days…

This CD features Steve Khan in his fusion period during which his guitar tone was usually a bit distorted and he tended to improvise over funky rhythms.This all-star outing features such players as altoist David Sanborn,tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker,trumpeter Randy Brecker and the large rhythm section with the likes of keyboardists Don Grolnick,Bob James and drummer Steve Gadd.