The Jazz Passengers
Reunited
Justin Time Records
www.justin-time.com
By George W. Harris

After listening to their first recording in a dozen years, I recalled the old Marx Brothers joke, “Not you again?!?” The team of Curtis Fowlkes/tb-voc, Roy Nathanson/sax-voc, Bill Ware/vibes-voc, Bradely Jones/b-voc, EJ Rodriguez/dr-(what, no vocals?) and Sam Bardfeld/v is joined by Marc Ribot on guitar for most of the tracks, and Elvis Costello, Deborah Harry and Susi Hyldgaard for “Wind Walked By,” “Think Of Me,” “One Way Or Another,” and “Spanish Harlem.” The vocals have a self-importance that is none too attractive, and Ribot’s guitar playing is just too abrasive on tunes like “Reunited” and ”The National Anthem.” What is this, Hendrix revisited? These passengers just seem like they hitched the wrong ride.