Fahir Atakaglu
Faces & Places
Far & Here Music
www.farandhere.com
By George W. Harris

I guess that no one told keyboardist/composer Fahir Atakaglu that
fusion was out of style. Good thing, as this music is just so chock
full of energy and chops that you wonder how come this kind of stuff
isn’t played more often. The Turkish born leader gets together a bunch
of first rate artists in Randy Brecker/tp, Wayne Krantz/g, Horacio “El
Negro” Hernandez/dr, Romero Lubambo/g, Bob Mintzer/sax and John
Patitucci/b for an exciting and thrilling run through of music that
goes from Flamenco to the Middle East and back through the
Mediterranean without changing time zones. You will have to keep your
seat belt on, however, as they pull a white knuckler on tunes like
“Into You” and “Rhythm Of Corners” that have incessant grooves for you
to sink into. Krantz sounds as gnarly as ever, with his wild guitar
work on “Seven,” while flamenco guitarist Rene Toledo wafts like lace
drapes on the lovely “…and Places.” Atakoglu , Hernandez and Patitucci
make up a formidable rhythm team, while they also are able to create
some gorgeous backing for Mintzer on “Your Face.” Music that energizes
like a Duracell!