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