reviews "One Spirit"

Reviews One Spirit

Jazzflits februari 2006 nr 2 (Dutch only)

Review by Peter J. Korten.

Als je voor een CD die in eigen beheer wordt uitgegeven internationale artiesten weet te strikken zoals Randy Brecker moet je wel wat in huis hebben. De groep “One Spirit” bestaat uit Sebastiaan Cornelissen (drums), Richard hallebeek (gitaar) en Frans vollink (bas). Op deze fusion CD spelen ook diverse gasten mee. Buiten Brecker o.a. De zweedse toetsenist lale larson en de Duitse gitariste Susan Weinert. In wisselende bezetting wordt er vlotte jazz-fusion gemaakt. De twee initiatiefnemers leggen een ijzersterke basis neer voor het album. De vette basgitaar van Vollink is nadrukkelijk maar aangenaam aanwezig en hij soleert verdienstelijk. De drums van Cornelissen houden er stevig de vaart in. Alleen in het titelstuk gaat het tempo even omlaag. Tien stukken komen van Cornellisen en Vollink. “Wise Man From The East” is van Rob van Bavel. “Wrong Format” met de gitaar van Weinert en zo’n vier minuten lang, zou wel eens wat radioaandacht kunnen verdienen. Fusion heeft over het algemeen een breder publiek en er zijn jazz-zenders die overdag best eens wat gedurfder muziek zouden mogen programmeren.

Review "IO Pages", Dutch magazine for Progressive music by Rene Yedema:

One Spirit: Quality top jazz/fusion
"On the album “Timeline” drummer Sebastiaan Cornelissen played intense keyboards orientated jazz/rock with Gary Willis (b) and Lale Larson (kb). On this new album “One Spirit” he hooks up with bassist Frans Vollink, who is also the main composer with 8 out of 11 compositions written by him. Vollink’s style on fretlessbass is different. Because of his light touch one almost doesn’t notice it at first, but careful listening reveals the beauty of his soloing and choice of notes. It forms a very effective contrast with the ever present playing of Sebastiaan on drums. The two work together with a colourful cast of guestmusicians, but always with respect to the album title. The gorgeous percussive Fender Rhodes playing of Rob van Bavel, one the leading men in the Dutch jazz/rock scene, also really sticks out and his soloing on the strangely distorted Hohner Pianet is incredible. In two songs his place is taken by the Swedish virtuoso Lale Larson. The renewed collaboration with guitarist Richard Hallebeek is further proof that his Scott Henderson-like playing full with syncopated melodies for instance on “Me and Freddie” and “Suse’s Song” is still evolving. On “Wrong Format” his place is taken by the female German fusion guitarplayer Susan Weinert, a lady playing effortlessly in the style of greats like Scofield and Henderson. From an international point of view the appearance of trumpetplayer Randy Brecker on two tracks is prominent. His lovely contribution on flugelhorn on “Official Noisemaker” and trumpet playing on “Whats in Store” (a composition full of twists and changes) is unmistakenly a bonus. And speaking of bonuses, top percussionist Martin Verdonk (Steve Winwood, Incognito, Ed Motta) is also present and forms a great rhythm section together with Sebastiaan. Overall “One Spirit” turned out to be a quality top production."

Review from Mark F. Turner - All About Jazz: Click here

Music Maker (Dutch musicians magazine) March 2006: click here.