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Phil Haynes — Return to Electric
(Corner Store Jazz CSJ 0149, 2025, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2025-08-04

Return to Electric Cover art

The previous releases we’ve reviewed from drummer Phil Haynes have not covered the breadth of his career, which has spanned several decades and a variety of different streams of jazz. On Return to Electric, he pays homage to the heady days of the late 60s and early 70s when jazz musicians started using electric instruments. His companions on this journey are bassist Drew Gress and guitarist Steve Salerno, and in addition to Haynes originals, they cover a number of gems from the past: Chick Corea’s “Crystal Silence,” Wayne Shorter’s “Paraphernalia,” George Russell’s “Living Time,” and two pieces by John McLaughlin: “Spectrum” and “Lotus on Irish Streams” (here titled “Lotus on Irish Springs”). Each of the three also gets a “Cadenza” solo spot. “Crystal Silence” starts the album in a pensive mood, taking on a very different flavor without a keyboard instrument. Gress kicks it off on the bass with an interpretation of the melody, then Salerno takes over with a tone a little reminiscent of Bill Frisell, and Haynes finishes off with a few cymbal splashes. “Spectrum” bumps up the energy several notches, with guitar taking the melody in an edgy performance. It’s a standout rendition of a somewhat obscure McLaughlin tune from the pre-Mahavishnu days. Other highlights include the Haynes original “Spell,” a bluesy tune with a slinky unison riff on bass and guitar that allows the drums a lot of freedom, and “Eclipse,” with swelling guitar chords backed by bowed bass and very free drums. The main thing to note about Return to Electric is that Salerno’s guitar is the only electric instrument, and the music is a far cry from the jazz-rock that most of us think of as “electric jazz.” Admittedly, my favorite tracks on the album are the more energetic ones, but the quieter, subtler tunes are very tasty, and this is probably my favorite of the half dozen or more of Haynes’ albums I’ve heard.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): Phil Haynes

More info
http://philhaynesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/return-to-electric

 

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