Blues For Tony

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Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
Alan Pasqua - Keyboard
Jimmy Haslip - Bass
Chad Wackerman - Drums

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Disc 1

1. Blues For Tony
2. The Fifth
3. It Must Be Jazz
4. Fred
5. Guitar Intro
6. Pud Wud

Disc 2

1. Looking Glass
2. To Jaki, George and Thad
3. San Michele
4. Protocosmos
5. Red Alert

Every so often I come across an album that I know I'll love before even listening to it. Such is the case with Blues For Tony, an album I stumbled across back in 2012. A quick look at the personnel list and I knew  I had to check it out. Seeing as I'm a huge Tony Williams fan, and also that Allan Holdsworth's 1983 EP Road Games was highly influential to me growing up (and also my introduction to drummer Chad Wackerman), I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

Whether or not you're familiar with Chad Wackerman, either way you're in for a treat. The drumming on this album is classic Wackerman, being both technically intriguing, while at the same time imparting the smooth, drawn out rhythmic flow that clearly identifies his style. Many of the selections are from Tony Williams Lifetime period, and it's interesting to hear Wackerman's take on these songs. There are killer renditions of Fred, Protocosmos, and Red Alert, along with some Holdsworth and Pasqua originals. The album is not an imitation effort, and the drumming is characteristically Wackerman; however, every once in a while you'll distinctly hear a fitting tribute to the late, great master. To top it all off, this album is a live recording, which attests to the unbelievable musicianship of the group. Blues For Tony is an amazing fusion album, and I highly recommend checking it out. 

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Check out Chad Wackerman's website at the following link:
Chad Wackerman.com
Here's a link to an alternate review from All Music. You can also sample and stream the album from this page:
Blues For Tony Review by Alex Henderson - 
All Music.com