DAVE WECKL— Master Plan (1990) Two Version | APE (image+.cue), lossless & FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Dave Weckl's recording career as a leader was off to a decent start with Master Plan -- not a fantastic start, but a decent one. The drummer had made a name for himself playing with Chick Corea's fusion-oriented Elektric Band and his straight-ahead Akoustic Band, and his admirers greeted this CD with high expectations. But while Master Plan isn't the mind-blowing gem it could have been, it's a competent, enjoyable jazz-rock outing. Weckl has talented guests in keyboardist Jay Oliver, tenor saxman Michael Brecker and Elektric Band colleagues Corea and Eric Marienthal (soprano and alto sax), and he is in good form on pieces that range from the funky "Tower of Inspiration" to the Afro-Cuban-influenced "Festival de Ritmo" and the Brazilian-minded "Auratune." The CD's only hard bop offering is "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," which finds Weckl forming a trio with pianist Ray Kennedy and bassist Tom Kennedy. Master Plan isn't essential, but it isn't anything to be ashamed of either. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Tower Of Inspiration 3:58
Written-By – Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver
2    Here And There 6:06
Written-By – Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver
3    Festival De Ritmo 4:50
Written-By – Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver
4    In Common 5:54
Written-By – Jim Mayer, Peter Mayer, Roger Guth
5    Garden Wall 4:32
Written-By – Jim Mayer, Peter Mayer, Roger Guth
6    Auratune 4:45
Written-By – Jay Oliver
7    Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise 4:49
Written-By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
8    Master Plan 8:12
Written-By – Chick Corea
9    Island Magic 4:55
Written-By – Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Eric Marienthal (tracks: 2, 3)
Bass – Anthony Jackson (tracks: 2 to 5, 8, 9), Tom Kennedy (tracks: 1, 7)
Drums – Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd (tracks: 8)
Guitar – Peter Mayer (tracks: 2, 4)
Keyboards – Jay Oliver (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)
Piano – Chick Corea (tracks: 8), Ray Kennedy (3) (tracks: 7)
Soprano Saxophone – Eric Marienthal (tracks: 2, 4)
Sounds [Brush Overdub] – Dave Weckl (tracks: 4)
Sounds [Sound Effects] – Jay Oliver (tracks: 1)
Synthesizer – Chick Corea (tracks: 5, 9), Jay Oliver (tracks: 6, 8, 9)
Synthesizer [Additional Synthesizer Horns] – Jay Oliver (tracks: 1, 3)
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: 5)
Timbales – Dave Weckl (tracks: 2, 9)
Trombone – Bill Reichenbach (2) (tracks: 1, 3)
Trumpet – Jerry Hey (tracks: 1, 3), Scott Alspach (tracks: 6)
Vocals – Peter Mayer (tracks: 6)