THE WRONG OBJECT — After The Exhibition (review)

THE WRONG OBJECT — After The Exhibition album cover Album · 2013 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
“After the Exhibition” is the latest offering from artsy fusioneers, The Wrong Object, who haven’t released an album in five years. This new CD finds Wrong Object working with a mostly revamped lineup that now features two saxophonists plus bass, drums, keys and guitarist/band leader Michel Deville. Guest Benoit Moerlin also adds marimba and xylophone to many of the tracks, pretty much sounding like a regular member of the band. The ensemble sound Wrong Object has on here is like a jazz-rock mini ‘big band’, very much in the style of Frank Zappa or early Don Ellis. The musical influences on here also show a strong interest in Zappa, as well as music from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the melodies of Bartok and Stravinsky, and that quirky European style of jazz-rock known as Canterbury.

There is rarely a dull moment on “Exhibition” as complex arranged melodies build and then open up to solo sections that give the different members a chance to really stretch out. The individual tracks don’t seem to matter much as every thing just flows together as a sort of world beat fusion symphony. The style of fusion on here accentuates the jazz and is very much rooted in a loose swing feel as invented by guys like Jack DeJohnette, so there is very little plodding rock beats. Despite their obvious interest in the past, Wrong Object maintains a modern sound with a tasteful use of electronic ambience, occasional chiming post-rock guitars and some drumnbass beat influences too.

After years of neglect and dwindling sameness, the fusion genre has been making a comeback recently in the hands of artists who are re-exploring the jazz roots of the genre and bringing in fresh creative approaches. The fact that fusion is no longer as profitable as it once was has been a blessing for the style’s integrity and helped drive away those who soaked the fusion style for big dollars. In that spirit of high energy creativity, it is easy to recommend “After the Exhibition” to fans of modern jazz fusion.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Leo Genovese / John Lockwood / Nat Mugavero : The Art Of Not Playing Avant-Garde Jazz
LEO GENOVESE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Martin Archer & Walt Shaw : Biyartabiyu Avant-Garde Jazz
MARTIN ARCHER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Meet The Graingers Pop/Art Song/Folk
NATE NAJAR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Full Throttle RnB
GERALD ALBRIGHT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ancestral Numbers I 21st Century Modern
JASON ROBINSON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 10 hours ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 10 hours ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 15 hours ago
??·??·?·???·?·????
SADAO WATANABE
snobb· 1 day ago
"Miles Between" // by Shawn Schlogel & Nancy Erickson Lamont
NANCY ERICKSON LAMONT
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed