Jazz and jam collide on this album full of groovy, bouncy songs. The brainchild of Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead pianist T Lavitz, School of the Arts culls some of the finest players from the jazz-rock universe — including drummer Dave Weckl (Chick Corea), guitarists Frank Gambale (Corea, Vital Information) and Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Kansas), acoustic and electric bassist John Patitucci (Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter) and violinist Jerry Goodman (Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shadowfax). The result is something not unlike Bruce Hornsby's recent output...
With most tracks landing in the five- to seven-minute range, these extraordinary players are given room to stretch — although none of them steals the spotlight. In fact, this happens to be a complete collaborative effort that often sounds improvised, and the musical interplay makes it seem as if these guys have been playing together their whole lives. (In some ways, I suppose they have.) Highlights include the invigorating opener "Fairweather Green," Lavitz's finger workout on "Teaser" and the Celtic vibe of "Like This." The album works best, however, listened to as one continuous hour of music.
Track Listing
1) Fairweather Green
2) No Time Flat
3) On Fire
4) Portrait
5) Like This
6) High Falutin' Blues
7) Gambashwari
8) Dinosaur Dance
9) Teaser
10) A Little Mouse Music
11) Maybe Next Time
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