Daryl
Stuermer - Another Side Of Genesis
Urban
Island Music
I
discovered Jazz about the same time that Phil Collins replaced Peter Gabriel as
lead vocalist of Genesis. It was 1975 and interestingly all of my much older musical
mentors had two things in common, all loved Jazz while owning every single Genesis
album. The connection, though not clear to me then seems to make a lot of sense
today. Jazz as a genre has always broken the rules, Jazz musicians like to reinvent,
rattle, improvise and virtually change the shape of whatever song they are tackling.
At least the adventurous ones do. Genesis for the most part did the same in Rock,
so much so that they and other bands like Yes and Pink Floyd gave birth to a much
more interesting sub-genre called Art Rock. Of course with Phil Collins taking
the helm some old Gabriel/Genesis diehards created this Lennon versus McCartney
debate on who was better. Like McCartney, Phil Collins was more commercial and
was responsible for bringing the music to the masses. The Collins years also introduced
us two new touring members of Genesis, drummer Chester Thompson and guitarist
Daryl Stuermer who himself was introduced to Genesis music by violinist Jean-Luc
Ponty in 1977. After spending fourteen years on the road with Genesis this seems
a fitting tribute and thank you to his old co-horts. Another side Of Genesis works
for a lot of reasons, first who knows Genesis better than Stuermer and after spending
so many years doing these songs over and over it also made sense to reinvent them.
Well just imagine Genesis as a Smooth Jazz instrumental band, really, trust me
it works. Another Side of Genesis opens with a breezy cover of the bands first
hit single 'Follow You Follow Me', if you're a fan of that inspirational hook-laden
side of Smooth Jazz you'll love this song. Stuermer stuck to songs from the era
that he was with the band, in other words the songs that Collins sang on from
1978-1992. 'Land of Confusion' keeps the drivin', steamroller feel of the original
while kicking things up a notch with Stuermer's soaring guitar leads. Turn it
on Again, another high energy Genesis anthem translates well to a guitar piece
and the mellower songs like the gentle Man in the Corner and Never a Time rival
anything on Smooth Jazz Radio today. This is good stuff, in the wrong hands it
could have easily been a syrupy disaster. Would my argumentative old Jazz/Genesis
loving mentors have a problem with this one? Only if they haven't heard it. --by
John Beaudin
Daryl
Stuermer - Waiting in the Wings
Urban
Island Music
This
album is another reminder why Smooth Jazz is so popular in North America. It maintains
all the feel of great pop music; it's catchy, inspirational and begs to be played
over and over. Daryl Stuermer, well known to any Genesis fan as a touring member
of the band from 1978 to 1992 and constant back-up to Phil Collins solo works
shines on his best album to date. The album opens with the title track, featuring
the gentle introspective piano of Kostia whose '10 Pebbles' CD I still consider
one of the strongest in the history of the Narada label. This is one of those
tracks that jumps out at you, not in tempo but emotional richness; it's simply
a pretty tune. Other stand-outs include the good natured acoustic sounding Copenhagen
and Road Warrior which seems to draw some inspiration from Stuermer's old pal
Jean Luc Ponty. I can't really pick a favorite on this album it's easier to point
out that there isn't any filler on Waiting in the wings. This is the kind of CD
that sets a career on track and leaves you running to the record shop for more
Daryl Stuermer. One of the best Smooth Jazz albums this year. --by John Beaudin
