Detroit Experiment
In this talent-packed project, a varied cast of Detroit players were thrown into a studio for a few days to see what would happen. Produced by techno pioneerCarl Craig, the lineup includes jazz heavies (reedistBennie Maupin, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, pianistGeri Allen, and violin sensationRegina Carter), Motown session players (guitarist Percy Hughes and drummer Ron Otis), and various hip-hop and electronic people. The result is a tidy musical package crammed with rich ambient textures, percolating rhythms (stellar percussionist Francisco Mora sees to that), and strong grooves that still leave enough room for the jazz folk to solo comfortably. Ranging from the smooth-jazz-like "Revelation" to the interstellar bop of "Space Odyssey" to the outright hip-hop of "The Way We Make Music" to a surreal reading ofStevie Wonder's "Too High," the 14 tracks here have a little something for everyone, without sacrificing quality. Rarely has this new electro-jazz-hip-hop hybrid had such soul, but what else would you expect from Detroit?--Tad Hendrickson