Short Reviews [The Haas Company - 2024 - "Celestial Latitude"]

Here we have the second release from The Haas Company, which is based around the compositions and playing of drummer Steve Haas and keyboard player Pete Drungle. The debut, "Galactic Tide", featured guitarist Andy Timmons (Danger Danger), and now they are back with "Celestial" where they have paired with a very different musician indeed, guitarist Frank Gambales (Chick Corea). While jazz rock fusion is the genre, the foundation is set on the polyrhythmic drumming of Haas, and although the compositions have been scored the expectation is there is lots of room for improvisation and that is what we get with Drungle and Gambales bouncing off each other while the bassist (there are three involved at different times on this set) playing rhythmically to keep everything going while those at the front go off tangentially. However, this is one of those albums when the musicians are obviously talented and masters of their craft but the music doesn't really live up to the promise. Some of the jazz-inspired shredding is simply incredible, and I am sure that if I were sat in front of Gambales I could watch him play all day and marvel at his skill, but the album itself never really lifts to the heights we would like. There is something missing and sheer mastery does not make up for it, and while there are sections where it all comes together there are others where it feels like they are going through the motions waiting for the next bout of inspiration. Mind you, this is an album I have found to be improving the more I have listened to it, so it is more than possible the issue is I have not got enough time to truly get inside. The end result is an album which is good, but the flashes of genius are not enough to make it excellent.