Ducret, Marc – “News From The Front ” – [Winter & Winter]

Max Level   10/2/2006   CD, Jazz

2004 re-issue of guitarist Ducret’s 1992 release. He’s been putting out records for a couple of decades now, without attracting much attention outside a circle of musicians including NY saxophonist/composer Tim Berne, with whom he’s had a long working relationship. On this fusion-style date as a leader, Ducret shows his considerable technique on acoustic and electric guitars, as well as displaying his offbeat composition skills. He’s working with a solid ensemble of trumpet/flugelhorn, trombone, and percussion (drums, tabla, and some really creative drum machine programming). No bassist, though; what sounds like a fretless bass playing up high, is actually Ducret playing down low on his fretless guitar. The acoustic guitar parts are nice enough, but when Ducret fires up those rapid jazzrockfusion runs on his electric, that’s when he really grabs my attention. Impressive work here from a veteran, though low-profile, guitar hero.