This fall brought new CDs from several Zawinul alumni. Tribal Tech, one of the longest lived and best fusion bands working today, released a new album called Rocket Science. The band’s personnel has remained the same for a decade, with former Syndicate members Scott Henderson on guitar, and Kirk Covington on drums. The other members of the band are electric bass player Gary Willis (who played with Wayne Shorter in the mid to late 1980s) and keyboard player Scott Kinsey. I love Kinsey’s playing; it’s unique and fresh. Plus he used a Korg OASYS PCI on Rocket Science, a product I had a little something to do with! Anyway, Rocket Science is highly recommended.

Former Syndicate bass player Matthew Garrison has released his first solo album. The personnel includes some names familiar to Zawinul fans, such as Amit Chaterjee and Arto Tuncboyacian. And that Kinsey guy plays an OASYS PCI on this CD too. Check out Matthew’s web site for more information. I haven’t heard the CD yet, but I understand it’s a knock out. I better get off my duff and send Garrison a check.

Another recent release comes from former Weather Report member Mino Cinelu. The self-titled CD features Zawinul alumnus Richard Bona on bass, as well as Mitch Stein on guitars, with Cinelu playing everything else. The album includes a new version of Cinelu’s composition “Confians,” which appeared on the Weather Report album Sportin’ Life.