Although Dave Weckl is an excellent drummer, not all of his recordings have been excellent. In the 1990s, you never knew if you would find something exciting or mundane on a Weckl album. But this fusion/soul-jazz disc turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Synergy, in fact, is the drummer's most consistently satisfying CD. Excessive producing was a major problem on some of his previous releases, but this time he generally avoids overproducing and goes for a real band sound. Joined by tenor and soprano saxman Brandon Fields, keyboardist Jay Oliver, guitarist Buzz Feiten, and electric bassist Tom Kennedy, Weckl has a solid team to work with and emphasizes improvisation and honest-to-God playing not high-tech studio gloss. Weckl's band sounds quite cohesive on a diverse, unpredictable outing that ranges from the funky "Wet Skin" and the Latin-influenced title song to the ominous "Cape Fear" and the delicate "A Simple Prayer." If you could purchase only one of Weckl's 1990s albums, Synergy would be the best choice. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1 High Life 7:45
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar [Guitars] – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards, Synth [Synth Solo] – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Feiten, Weckl, Oliver, Kennedy
2 Panda's Dream 5:22
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar [Guitars] – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Feiten
3 Swunk 4:48
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Weckl, Oliver
4 A Simple Prayer 4:52
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Classical Guitar [Nylon String Guitar] – Buzz Feiten
Drums, Percussion – Dave Weckl
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Feiten
5 Cape Fear 6:54
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Electronic Wind Instrument [Yamaha WX5] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Fields, Feiten, Feiten, Oliver
6 Wet Skin 6:10
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar [Guitars] – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Fields, Feiten, Weckl, Oliver, Kennedy
7 Synergy 7:13
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Weckl, Oliver
8 Where's My Paradise? 4:51
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Electronic Wind Instrument [Yamaha WX5] – Brandon Fields
Guitar [Steel String Guitar] – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Written-By – Feiten, Oliver
9 Lucky Seven 5:55
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums, Tambourine [Hi Hat Tambourine] – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Buzz Feiten
Organ – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax], Electronic Wind Instrument [Yamaha WX5], Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Fields
10 Swamp Thing 5:22
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar [Guitars] – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Saxes] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Feiten, Weckl, Oliver, Kennedy
11 Cultural Concurrence 3:25
Drums, Percussion, Musical Box [Brushes On Box] – Dave Weckl
Written-By – Weckl
12 Tower '99 6:07
Bass – Tommy Kennedy
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Buzz Feiten
Keyboards – Jay Oliver
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Brandon Fields
Written-By – Weckl, Oliver
