E.E.R.

TWO REVIEWS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.

Stuart Hart , Inner Voice (1999)
Mother West, MWR 011199
132 W. 26th Street, NY, NY 10001
www.motherwest.com


This is pretty solid - if not terribly original - fusion from the 
bespectacled, Paul Reed Smith-wielding Stuart Hart. With a rotating 
roster that includes the likes of Gary Thomas on sax, Paul Bollenback 
on second guitar, Evan Miller on keys, Matt Garrison on bass, and 
Dennis Chambers on drums, Hart delivers funky tunes and high-energy, 
fuzzed-out guitar playing. There are echoes of the Yellowjackets, 
Scott Henderson, Electric Outlet-era John Scofield, that sort 
of thing. Paul Bollenback's clean sound contrasts well with Hart's 
fuzztone on "Speaquinox" (great title, huh?) and the latin-flavored 
"The Green Pedal." In terms of all-out smoking and impressive 
ensemble work, "First Impressions" takes the cake. On the other hand, 
"Right from the Right," the longest track, is also the dullest. 
Hart's writing can be uneven, but he's a promising player, and he's 
got the right guys backing him. ~David R. Adler
Stuart Hart: Inner Voice (CD, 44:03);
Mother West Records MWR011199, 1999
Cyberhome: http://www.stuarthart.com

Hart definitely plays his heart out on this release. He has obviously talented musicians to jam with. 
His fretwork technique is solid, fun, fuzzed and/or pristine to suit the mood. He's fast, melodic, 
peppy and mellow if need be. There's plenty to groove to but . . . this isn't the hard-edged 
Hendersonic fusion I was awaiting. This is smooth jazz, (with some fuzzed overdrive and sporadic 
speed riffs), but, "Oops!", there's ample evidence of "fuzak" here too. This is great music for those 
Kenny G/ D. Sanborn/ Metheny/ Scofield/ Richard Smith Unit/ Mitch Watkins jazz adherents but if 
you want rippin' fusion do look elsewhere.
	In places I heard flashes of Gambale, "Ernie's Over", and lots of Richard Smith voicings. Hart's 
soloing reminded me of Tommy Bolin's fusion modes on "First Impressions" but that jazz standards 
breakdown, groove lost my interest here as well as in other cuts. I guess I've heard way too much 
"cruise boat", Caribbean-slick jazz in my day. You see, it's this -- Hart plays excellent guitar, 
polished jazz but the soulfire seems low-key, buried in doing everything acceptably jazz-correct and 
"safe". Inner Voice is mostly bereft of that intangible quality called soul energetics, soul-
fire, and laying-all-the-cards abandon. Catch my drift? Cool yet cold. In spite of my clear 
subjectiveness here, I recommend folks try Hart out anyway! Especially sample "Running Out of 
Words", the outro on "The Green Pedal" w/Hart and Dennis Chambers rippin' it up in good olde 
'70s fusion, (Larry Coryellian/11th House), style and lastly, check out "Instrumentality".
 	I hate to slam Hart's effort here in any way because he is one great person doing incredibly fine 
things with his talent after many, many struggles through grief and pain to finally release this CD. 
Still, I believe artists want true reviews versus "fluff jobs". So do it again, Stuart! You can play the 
heck outta that PRS dude. Kick out the jams next time and loose all that lounge-jazz restraint.
	~ John W. Patterson

Track listing:
1. Running Out of Words
2. Ernie's Over
3. The Green Pedal
4. First Impressions
5. Right from the Right
6. Speaquinox
7. Toe Nails
8. Instrumentality






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