Dominant Domain

Album Review

Fans of John Scofield, Pat Metheny, and Mike Stern are going to find a good deal to enjoy here. Peter Kienle on guitars and guitar synth is a strong, inventive player. Monika Herzig keeps things full-sounding, be-boppin', and soulful on keyboards. "Quiet Earth" opens things in a laidback, meandering groove. Guesting is Miles Davis alumnus, Bob Berg, on tenor sax. Tom Clark, saxes and flute, brings that Bill Evans style to mind on a Chick Corea-like/ Mark Egan and Elements sounding track called "Tell Me Your Stories." Also guesting are Ron Brinson on drums and Jeff Nearpass on percussion and marimba. Beeble Broxian Paul Surowiak is always steady and flowing on drums throughout. Jack Helsley provides faultless and inspired acoustic and electric bass. On "Now What?," in a Latin American way, Clark, Kienle, and Herzig have plenty of time to stretch. Probably, the most enthralling, take-your-mind-faraway, signature piece was "A German in New York." This song and "The Third Passenger" clearly establish Herzig as a fine composer. "Half Past Forever" was my favorite piece for fusiony guitar work. ~ John W. Patterson, Rovi