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Daryll Dobson Healing Intentions (Midnight Lamp Cybermedia Arts,
1997)

Fusion guitarist Daryll Dobson released Healing Intentions in
1997, following up his previous light fusion record Studio 21 and
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his electric fusion record The Mind Electric, which featured L.
Shankar and Kenny Kirkland.  Healing Intentions regroups some of
the less famous members of the band on The Mind Electric,
including Delmar Brown, Kenwood Dennard, and Rael Grant, to play
electric fusion with subtle ethereal touches over a driving backbeat.

Despite the pseudo-metaphysical framing of Healing Intentions by
the liner notes as a journey into space, the driving yet melodic fusion
still retains relevance for listeners who aren't interested in those
mystic trappings.  The music includes driving pieces, like "With My
Wings" and "We Cannot Hear… The Killing Noise," framing more subdued
songs like "Peace of Mind" and "Be the Light," moving thematically
between the harder style and the softer one.  Dobson includes two cover
songs, Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" and a slowly building, twelve minute
version of the Hendrix classic "Third Stone from the Sun."   These songs
fit musically, and they fit the album theme as the work of deceased
visionaries Dobson suggests are still watching down on the earth, much
like the celestial viewpoint suggested by "Third Stone" and described in
the metaphysical journey in the liner notes.

The drums sound crisp and alive, and Gerry Brown lays down thick grooves
reminiscent of Dennis Chambers through the entire record, including the
tastefully short drum solo "Wings of Rhythm."  The bass purrs with a
wooden growl, adding a wide sonic foundation that Dobson's older CD
Studio 21 lacks.  The clean piano, and especially the organ on
"End of Time" and "Third Stone," colorfully back the guitar.  Dobson's
electric guitar shines at singing leads like "With My Wings" and "We
Cannot Hear… The Killing Noise," and at plucked clean passages like
"Peace of Mind," complimented by acoustic guitar.  Most of Dobson's
synth work subtly compliments the playing by the live musicians, such as
the chords on "We Cannot Hear…," but the unnecessary and poorly voiced
synth horn accents in "With My Wings" detract from the crisp, natural
tones of all the real instruments.  Fortunately, Dobson uses better
placement and sound with the synth parts in the other up-tempo songs,
and the tasteful one minute synth solo track "Our Journey Within,"
providing a better showcase for the playing and sound of the live
instruments and musicians.

Healing Intentions grooves with mystic intensity through driven
vamps and mellow ebbs, and Dobson's talents shine when surrounded by
skillful guest musicians.


Reviewed by Scott Andrews [scottandrews@his.com]


More Info:http://www.darylldobson.com/ 


EER-MUSIC.com Editor notes: Dobson's The Mind Electric is a must-hear fusion CD. Get it while you still can!



Daryll Dobson: Studio 21 (Crazz Records, 1994)

Fusion guitarist Daryll Dobson released Studio 21 back in 1994, a
record of light, R&B flavored instrumental fusion with one song
featuring a guest vocalist.  Since then, Dobson has released several
other electric fusion records, including Healing Intentions and
Mind Electric.  


The first half of Studio 21 is dreamy light fusion, with songs
that seem to run together with similar sounding phrases.  The guest
vocals on "Down to This" and the soprano saxophone on several tracks
help to revive this sluggishness and add a more distinctive character to
those songs.  The music picks up on the second half of the record, with
snappy angular piano chording on "Now" and shifting chords under soaring
electric guitar on "The Message."  The acoustic guitar piece "Earth
Sighs" is the album's strongest moment, where the synth drums and other
unwieldy trappings are stripped away, leaving only a brooding melody and
Dobson's skillful guitar work.

Dobson plays or sequences all instruments, except the piano on two
tracks and soprano sax on three.  The guitar playing is sharp, but the
drum programming on several tracks feels stiff and awkward.  The synth
patches used for drums and some keyboards, such as the hand clap snare
drum sound, sound dated and amateurish, even by 1994 standards. 
However, the tones from the real instruments like guitar and soprano
saxophone ring clear and true.

Daryll Dobson's Studio 21 is a solid work in the lighter fusion /
R&B style, showing potential but room for improvement.

Reviewed by Scott Andrews [scottandrews@his.com]

More Info:

http://www.darylldobson.com/





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