Best known for stints with Steely Dan, Donald Fagen’s New York Rock and Soul Revue, and Boz Scaggs, Drew Zingg is a complete guitarist. And he has gone a unique route with this record, working with producer George Walker Petit and a group of friends and admirers who all contributed money and session time.
The band is comprised of Zingg’s buddies, and they’re no bunch of stiffs. George Whitty plays keyboards and does the bulk of the arranging. Will Lee is masterful on bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta is the perfect drummer to translate all the various styles that are present on the record. Throw in a few guest vocals from the likes of Scaggs and Mike McDonald and you’ve got a pretty good crowd.
But the real beauty of all these great players is that the record comes off as a true band record; players feed off each other like they’ve been together for years. Zingg straddles the lines between rock and roll, blues, soul, and jazz, dipping his toes in every style while remaining incredibly soulful. For the most part, his tone is pure, blistering ES-335. It’s a hot sound – clean, but always on the verge. His chops are unquestionable. On “One-Off,” a subtle jazz-fusion vibe gives way to bursts of notes that belie the fact that it’s based on a simple riff. Throughout the song, he solos without repeating ideas; the final solo features the only heavy dose of wah on the record.
Funk is never far away. “Downstream” is slinky, bluesy funk with a soaring solo and vocasl from Whitty. “Cactus” features chunky bursts of notes while the rhythm section cooks. “Tennessee Street” is a groove piece that showcases Zingg’s ability to play simple chord changes but still sound truly musical. It also highlights his precise bends – an important part of his playing.
The Commodores’ “Easy” gets a soulful gospel feel with the kind of vocal you expect from McDonald. Zingg’s solo is melodic and expressive, displaying imagination and soul. Scaggs’ contribution comes in the jazzy ballad “Save Your Love for Me” that finds Zingg dancing around the chord changes with tasty fills and a lovely solo.
Being released in conjunction with the CD is a DVD that is an interesting production, letting you in on how the group was put together and how the money was raised to make the CD. Video clips include an acoustic jam between Zingg and producer Petit that shows just how good Zingg is. Another nice snippet shows the band jamming on “Cissy Strut.” It’s the perfect way to display the incredible chemistry between the musicians.
Everything about this album is near-perfect; a guitarist of incredible skill matched with like-minded musicians and great songs played with soul and imagination.
This article originally appeared in VG‘s Jan. ’13 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
