Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Schon, Neal
Label: Music Theories Recordings
Release: 2015
Duration: 97:06
Rating: 4.5/5
Whenever the talk turns to Journey guitarist Neal Schon and his solo exploits, expect an album full of pleasant surprises! Neal Schon put out »The Calling« in 2012. On it he flirted with the roots of jazz rock fusion. A superb album. Its completely different follow-up was no less superb, when »So U« came out last May. That one is a vocal-driven, hard-rocking hard rock album. With »Vortex«, though, Neal Schon is back to flirting with jazz rock fusion. At its core »Vortex« is of course a rock album, but across eighteen tracks it shamelessly cozies up to elements of jazz (the opening tribute to Miles Davis, called Miles Beyond) as well as world music (El Matador, Cuban Fly Zone).
Considering that the Santana lineup got back together in the configuration from the late sixties and early seventies, with Carlos Santana (guitar), our good man Neal Schon (guitar), Gregg Rolie (keyboards), Michael Carabello (percussion) and Michael Schrieve (drums) as the key figures, a »workout« album like »Vortex« was really something to expect from Schon. So he brought the supporting crew from »The Calling« in on the new album too, including special guest Jan Hammer.
»Vortex« is Neal Schon! From head to toe. You can feel the whole musical essence of this richly layered musician here. On this album he lets his soul out and shows himself in full glory, giving a direct look into the musical ID card that embodies him. His sound is essential, instantly recognizable. His style, the way he approaches building compositions and solos, even more so. The instrument standing in for vocals across both discs is the guitar. It’s romantic, dreamy, fiery, passionate, but also extremely exploratory and dangerously loaded with rock attitude. Schon, who recently got married, has found a muse in his new life partner, and it clearly inspires him. At just the right time. He dedicated two tracks to her, the romantically lovestruck Lady M and Triumph of Love, which instantly show why Journey were so strong at writing ballads. All 18 tracks across both discs reach an exceptional level of variety and an incredible knack for spinning ultra-infectious musicality on one hand and free-spirited experimental challenges on the other. Both elements coexist once again in brilliant balance, and this album, full of sharply defined lead motifs and boldly potent playing, keeps evolving through highly dynamic shifts in mood. It doesn’t bore for a second, even with nearly 100 minutes of music on it.
The longest track, Tortured Souls, which Schon dedicated to all the restless souls of the world in the hope that they find their peace, since there’s too much suffering out there, is, when it comes to merging melodic forms with experimental value through Schon’s proving ground of exceptional soloing, a direct glimpse not only into the essence of »Vortex« but also into the musical talent and mastery of the one-of-a-kind Schon. The album otherwise excels in unbridled escapades of jazz rock fusion. Take Schon & Hammer Now, yet another escape into the embrace of jazz rock fusion, with guest Jan Hammer on keyboards, which the track NS Vortex right after it tops in all its astonishing virtuosity. Anyone looking for a compact rock burner will get a fiery, dangerous rally race delivered by AirlinerNS910.
The production is live and wonderfully pleasant. Schon’s guitar gets constant superb support from the keyboards in building contrasts and coloring the arrangements, while on the other side there’s the seasoned drum master and former Journey member Steve Smith. Tried and tested. The chemistry between the three musicians is palpable.
Apparently we won’t be getting a new Journey album for quite a while, since here’s already Neal Schon’s third studio album in a row, which at times teases like crazy with the associations it stirs up. They point straight to the work of famous AOR masters. »Vortex«, which came out just one year after its predecessor »So U«, is a very different album. Stylistically. At the same time it keeps plenty of inspiration, a whole load of brilliant ideas and solutions, and the full-blooded creative challenge of an inexhaustible genius, the one and only Neal Schon. Let’s hope that with this kind of creative form and momentum Schon writes another solo studio album in the coming years, although it would be nice, and high time, for Journey to slowly get around to recording a new album too.
Lineup
Neal Schon – guitar, bass guitar
Igor Len – keyboards
Steve Smith – drums
GUEST MUSICIAN:
Jan Hammer – keyboards on track no. 2 (CD2)
Production
Neal Schon
Track List
CD1
01. Miles Beyond
02. Awakening
03. Cuban Fly Zone
04. El Matador
05. Eternal Love
06. In a Cloud
07. Irish Cream
08. Lady M (Our love Remains)
09. NS Vortex
CD2
01. Tortured Souls
02. Schon & Hammer Now
03. Airliner NS910
04. Unspoken Faith
05. Twilight – Spellbound
06. Triumph of Love
07. Mom
08. Talk to Me
09. White Light
