Track Listing

1. Katahdin
2. Yang
3. First Look
4. Throne of Savitar
5. Nostalgia
6. Yin
7. Spirit of Dundun
8. Lumpy Lament
9. Isel of Few
10. Fugitive Aspirations

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113470 in Music
• Released on: 2000-07-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
The second collective side project from a trio of jazz-rock veterans, The Light Beyond yields nothing revelatory but does serve up a fairly entertaining fusion variety pack. Frank Gambale, guitarist on past Chick Corea Elektric Band projects and a longtime mate of drummer Steve Smith in Vital Information, both rattles and hums on this disc. Most memorable is the complex, whipsawing mix of industrial shards and blues-rock textures he juxtaposes in "Lumpy's Lament," a daunting piece that is counterbalanced by stretches of handsome jazz riffing on "The Throne of Savitar" and the shimmering, desertlike atmospheres he concocts on "Fugitive Aspirations." Stu Hamm, who has logged time with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, reliably sustains the group's challenging metric framework. While sometimes annoyingly light on melody, The Light Within is more structured and graceful than the trio's debut disc (Show Me What You Can Do), and, consistent with a group objective formed for this recording, reminiscent of the eclectic jazz-rock panache demonstrated in years past by Return to Forever. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews

- EXCELLENT! - Can't stop spinning this CD :)
I bought this one enticed by the incredible acrobatics of Stu Hamm (I'm a bass player myself) and found an absolutely different thing from "Show me what you can do", the previous record by this same trio.

This one features more thorough composition, less jamming and more melody. And it is beautiful. At first I couldn't get into it, I wanted more acrobatics, but suddendly it clicked and now I can't stop it, I take it everywhere (maybe I should see the doctor :)

The guitar work is incredible, excellent work of playing melodies and keeping the chord structure at the same time. It is so good I'm looking at buying a Frank Gambale CD right now.

Steve Smith shows again that he is one of the top drummers. His drumming is powerful yet subtle, and he takes quite a number of solos in this album. Drummers should drool over this one.

Stu Hamm does an AMAZING work with the bass. It is not as flashy as the double-handed tapping solos in the previous record, but an incredible show of laying down the groove, locking air-tight with the drums and inspirational playing. The word "tasteful" comes to mind before "incredible" (although there ARE bass solos, but they are more melodic than flashy, and VERY emotional, especially his solo piece "Nostalgia")

I love this record. Amazing chops, incredibly tight, beautiful melodies, it has it all. This CD is worth every penny and then some more.

Looking at the Light Beyond
I originally purchased this disc as I have all the Vital Information c.d.s.I have always been a fan of Steve Smith's
drumming and Frank Gambale's guitar playing.Frank G. has some
nice solo efforts as well,but I enjoy this disc quite a bit as
the input of Stuart Hamm is so tight and it adds nice dimension
to two great players.I found this cd to be full of energy and
complex arrangements which carry the listener to far away places
and every time I listen there is something else to discover.I
would highly recommend this cd along with these sugguestions if
you enjoy this type of jazz/fusion:any of the Vital Information
body of work or c.d.s being produced out of the Tone Center in
Marin Ca..There is a c.d. from there called the Strangers Hand
with Steve Smith,Jerry Goodman,Howard Levy and Oteil Burbridge
which has some fun with some cajun/zydeco style tunes.I am also
a fan of Simon Phillips the drummer and he has a great c.d. very
similar in nature to The Light Beyond called Another Lifetime.
I would highly recommend it for those who like this type of music.

The keyword is "light"
Made in USA in 2000, Serial# TC-40102, Playing Time 59:11

This is the trio's second collaboration, and has a fairly different approach than "Show Me What You Can Do...".

On the one hand, it's nicer: jazzier, softer, more structured and melodic. On the other hand, I said nicer, not better: once again composed and recorded in about 9 days, I found it to lack the energy and enthusiasm of the 1st effort: it's a LOT more subdued, and contains 3 "solo" performances of about 2 minutes each(tracks 5,7 and 9), 1 by each member of the trio.

There are still some great sections on this disc: you'll get hooked by the great musical lines of "The Throne Of Savitar", the longest (and my personal favorite) track here at over 9 minutes. I didn't like the slower tracks, "Yin" and "Fugitive Aspirations": even though they still overflow with talent, they simply didn't "touch" or captivate me as much as the rest.

Don't assume this is a follow-up to the first album: there are too many differences; but it still makes for an interesting hour of music.