Face First

• Artist: Scott Henderson/Gary Willis/Tribal Tech
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1993 04 -1993 05
• Total Time: 70:20
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Although it was their sixth album overall, Tribal Tech's 1993 release, Face First, was only the second to feature the still-existing lineup of guitarist Scott Henderson, bassist Gary Willis, keyboardist Scott Kinsey, and drummer Kirk Covington. Previously, Henderson and Willis had juggled lineups and eased further away from traditional jazz toward improvisational fusion through the 1985-1991 albums Spears, Dr. Hee, Nomad, and Tribal Tech. But the quartet of musical leftists gelled on Face First, improving on its promising 1992 debut, Illicit. Henderson's solo on the opening title track -- over a percolating Willis bassline -- shows the guitarist's range of influences from Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix to Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Funk pieces like "Canine" and "Uh...Yeah OK" show glimpses of the group's future, all-improvised CDs; hummingbird-quick drummer Covington's lead vocal on the cover-band farce "Boat Gig" set the stage for Henderson"'s solo blues debut the next year. In between, synth-master Kinsey's jazzy "After Hours" and Henderson's New Orleans-tinged "Revenge Stew" provide thought-provoking rest areas -- necessary because of breathtaking ten-minute thrill rides like the blues, bop, and beyond of "Salt Lick." Willis' Weather Report-like "The Precipice" and "Wounded" ease you to the finish of Face First, the album that made a statement that Henderson, Willis, and company have not yet begun to finish. ~ Bill Meredith, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Face First	Gary Willis	Tribal Tech	(7:03)
Canine	Gary Willis	Tribal Tech	(6:20)
After Hours	Scott Kinsey	Tribal Tech	(7:21)
Revenge Stew	Scott Henderson	Tribal Tech	(6:03)
Salt Lick	Scott Henderson	Tribal Tech	(9:44)
Uh...Yeah Ok	Tribal Tech	Tribal Tech	(6:41)
The Crawling Horror	Scott Henderson	Tribal Tech	(7:45)
Boiler Room	Kirk Covington	Tribal Tech	(1:34)
Boat Gig	Scott Henderson	Tribal Tech	(5:57)
Precipice	Gary Willis	Tribal Tech	(6:13)
Wounded	Gary Willis	Tribal Tech	(5:39)

Credits

Scott Henderson (Guitar), Scott Henderson (Vocals (Background)), Scott Henderson (Producer), Scott Henderson (Main Performer), Kirk Covington (Drums), Kirk Covington (Vocals), Brett Garsed (Vocals (Background)), T.J. Helmerich (Engineer), T.J. Helmerich (Mixing), Scott Kinsey (Keyboards), Scott Kinsey (Vocals (Background)), George Nauful (Executive Producer), Gary Willis (Bass), Gary Willis (Vocals (Background)), Gary Willis (Producer), Tribal Tech (Performer), Michelle Laurencot (Art Direction), Michelle Laurencot (Design), John Radzin (Assistant Engineer), Nathaniel Welch (Photography), Jeffrey Weiss (Photography), Cheryl Graul (Vocals (Background)), Steve Hall (Mastering)

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