WAYNE KRAMER AND THE LEXINGTON ARTS ENSEMBLE

He’s back with his first solo album in 13 years (how long?) and no-one could accuse Wayne Kramer of not taking chances. In fact, if you’re a longtime MC5 fan, chances are you might struggle with “Lexington” as it dives headlong into territory that his old band - at least on record - visited without fully casting adrift its rock anchor.   “Lexington” is a free jazz record in the purest sense of the term. There’s not a lyric on the thing. Horns  spar with piano and weave in and around time signatures that will leave rock and roll aficionados shaking their heads. Brother Wayne’s famed guitar tone is not properly sighted until side two (this is an LP with a download code) when the songs kick up a notch on the decibel scale.    The MC5 were always dancing with the jazz form of music. Mentor/manager John Sinclair used read more...