James Muller - Kaboom

Rating: ****1/2

Right from the opening this album explodes with the promise of its title. Sydney guitarist Muller has scored a triumph, enlisting drummer **Bill Stewart ** from US guitar maestro John Scofield’s trio, for this New York session.

Initially Stewart had vetoed the gig without hearing the Australian, but on auditioning Muller’s work, phoned back to sign on. And what an asset he is!

The guitar/drums interplay lifts everything to a higher level of integration, like a musical version of 3D chess, often at full throttle. Muller’s flashing curvilinear solos never slip a note as high energy and profuse ideas pour out.

US bassist Matt Penman supplies adequate foundations, if a little boomy at the low end, but his well thought-out solos more than compensate.

A tribute to US pianist Chick Corea opens with solo multiple cymbals against a jiggy light groove before the guitar arrives to state a swinging chorded theme. All tracks are original, save for an uptempo All The Things You Are, and Muller gets enough guitar tonal variety, that, added to the sheer brilliance of playing, makes this a must-have CD.

Weekend Australian 2006