Name: High Bias
Brand: Unbranded
SKU: 41544
Availability: OutOfStock

High Bias

Rating

Album: High Bias
#	Song Title		Time
1)	High Bias Instrumental	More Info...	6:07
2)	Birdland Instrumental	More Info...	6:34
3)	Slapped Silly Instrumental	More Info...	4:47
4)	Montuno Instrumental	More Info...	6:24
5)	Revenge Instrumental	More Info...	8:15
6)	Cool To The Touch Instrumental	More Info...	6:09
7)	Darkside Instrumental	More Info...	4:26
8)	It's The Little Things Instrumental	More Info...	5:26
9)	Soul Diversion Instrumental	More Info...	5:04
10)	Who Cares If It's Raining Instrumental	More Info...	4:17
11)	Hang Me Upside Down Instrumental	More Info...	11:31

Album: High Bias
#	Song Title		Time
1)	High Bias Instrumental	More Info...	6:07
2)	Birdland Instrumental	More Info...	6:34
3)	Slapped Silly Instrumental	More Info...	4:47
4)	Montuno Instrumental	More Info...	6:24
5)	Revenge Instrumental	More Info...	8:15
6)	Cool To The Touch Instrumental	More Info...	6:09
7)	Darkside Instrumental	More Info...	4:26
8)	It's The Little Things Instrumental	More Info...	5:26
9)	Soul Diversion Instrumental	More Info...	5:04
10)	Who Cares If It's Raining Instrumental	More Info...	4:17
11)	Hang Me Upside Down Instrumental	More Info...	11:31

Performer Notes

Niacin: John Novello (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizers); Billy Sheehan (bass); Dennis Chambers (drums).
Additional personnel: Chick Corea (Fender Rhodes piano); Rayford Griffin, Pat Torpey, Kenwood Dennard (drums); Alex Acuna (percussion); Lee Sebel (programming).
Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, California.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Personnel: John Novello (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Chick Corea (Fender Rhodes piano); Dennis Chambers, Kenwood Dennard, Pat Torpey, Ray Griffin (drums); Alex Acu¤a (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Bernie Kirsh.
Recording information: Mad Hatter Sutdios, LA, CA.
Photographer: John Harrell.
Arranger: John Novello.
Niacin showed a great deal of promise on its self-titled debut album of 1996, and there were no signs of the infamous sophomore slump on the fusion trio's second album, High Bias. Recalling the '70s experiments of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever and the Billy Cobham/George Duke Band, this exciting CD served as a reminder that the freedom of jazz and the intensity of rock can complement one another in a major way. Niacin must have been quite a learning experience for its bassist Billy Sheehan, whose main pre-Niacin gig had been his hard rock band Mr. Big. When he formed Niacin with organist/keyboardist John Novello and drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers in the mid-'90s, Sheehan proved that he had no problem handling jazz's complexity and challenges, and he proves it once again on everything from the urgent "Slapped Silly" and the Cuban-flavored "Montuno" to the churchy "It's the Little Things" and the cerebral "Hang Me Upside Down" (a song contributed by Stretch Records co-owner and onetime RTF leader Chick Corea, who has a nice cameo on keyboards). Another high point of the CD is Weather Report's "Birdland," which Niacin approaches in a rather angular fashion. Those who like their fusion meaty and improvisatory should make a point of obtaining High Bias. ~ Alex Henderson