Niacin – Organik
Magna Carta – 2005
By Russell Garwood
Fusion trio
Niacain use a B3 organ, and vitamin B3 is Niacin, get it, huh huh?
Anyway… Short asides over, this US trio comprises Billy Sheehan on bass (
Talas,
David Lee Roth,
Mr. Big), John Novello (
Mark Isham,
Chick Corea), and drummer Dennis Chambers (
Santana,
Chick Corea,
Steely Dan,
Parliament/Funkadelic,
James Brown). What you can expect from this undeniably talented supergroup (of sorts), is complex fusion; instrumental performances prove tighter than a marshmallow in a penny slot, complicated yet hard-hitting songs proliferate, and seemingly boundless enthusiasm adds an infectious air of fun to the proceedings. Influences from blues, funk, and prog also creep into the jazz/rock sound. Notably missing from the band’s previous album,
Time Crunch are the mellow, relaxed sections – instead the trio focus on in your face, full-on fusion.
Despite the presence of only three instruments, the band manage to create a multi-faceted sound with significant impact from the dense arrangements. But it is this barrage of solo-worthy performances that can also detract at times - while some songs are broken up with more memorable, melodic lines, the fast, intricate nature of much of the rest of the album occasionally makes it feel slightly formulaic. Such minor criticisms aside, however,
Organik is a strong release, and a must for fans of fusion, and jazz – impressive stuff.
7/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Official Niacin website
Official Magna Carta website
