Willie Oteri's Jazz Gunn: Concepts of MateMaToot

Willie Oteri is an Austin based jazz guitarist and released Concepts of MateMaToot shortly after moving to Texas in 2000. Due to financial constraints at the time Oteri felt the album did not get its due justice. With Oteri back into the jazz scene full time he decided to give the album a proper makeover including new artwork by MikoZen and enhanced audio.

The album features Michael Malone (tenor and soprano sax), Brannen Temple (drums), Chris Maresh (bass), Chris Tondre (guitar – right side) and Willie Oteri (guitar – left side).

On Concepts of MateMaToot the Miles Davis influence is strong as Oteri tackles a couple of Davis staples, "Spanish Key" and Joe Zawinul's "Pharaoh's Dance", both taken from Miles' jazz fusion classic album Bitches Brew. The album opens with the aforementioned "Spanish Key", and the band is on fire from the opening note. Great drum/bass groove, brilliant guitar playing and all the mind numbing textures the original track imbued. Of course, we shouldn't forget Malone's ever present sax exploits as well. On "Pharaoh's Dance" the fusion is hot and heavy as the band traverse through trippy guitar jams, varying tempos and softly hued soundscapes of psychedelic jamming. Each member absolutely shines with timely jam-like solos throughout. On the album ending scorcher "Brannen's Jam/Spanish Key Theme", choppy guitar rhythms, delicious sax lines and another deep rhythmic groove will have fusion fans hitting the repeat button. That's three songs and almost forty-five minutes of music. The two shorter tunes "Song of the Sea Witch" and the title track are no less enjoyable with both featuring Malone's melodic sax work. The guitar, sax and bass solos on the title track are outstanding.

Fusion and jazz fans should be delighted with this album as the playing, melodies and arranging are second to none. I really enjoyed it.

Track Listing:
1. Spanish Key (14:35)
2. Song of the Sea Witch (4:25)
3. MateMaToot (6:27)
4. Pharaoh's Dance (14:15)
5. Brannen's Jam/Spanish Key Theme (15:26)

Added: July 23rd 2015
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1861
Language: english

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