Zu & Spaceways Inc – “Radiale ” – [Atavistic]

anthony fremont   6/17/2006   A Library, CD

A quasi-split of sorts with Italy’s hard hitting avant jazz rockers Zu at the core joined by some of Chicago’s most revered jazzmen of the day. The first four tracks are originals with reedsman
Ken Vandermark as part of the Zu Quartet bringing a pounding stripped down sound with a prominent element of caustic bass moving at breakneck speed on Vandermark’s powerful winds. Zu & Spaceways close out the latter half with four more tracks again featuring Ken Vandermark, percussionist Hamid Drake and Nate McBride on double bass unleashing re-energized versions of classics by Funkadelic, Art Ensemble of Chicago and Sun Ra. Impressive overall in its heaviness and prowess within a jazz/rock vein. ‘AFremont