Vibes Alive - After Hours
Vibes Alive is the collaboration of Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman. Deliciously onomatopoeic, it’s a title that not only describes the bands intoxicating sound but also the fact that at its heart is the vibraphone of Dirk Richter. The bands latest album ‘After Hours’ is a sophisticated amalgam of contemporary jazz ‘vibes’ that comes eleven years after its eponymous debut for which, at the time, Richter received solo credits. Consequently and unusually the album predated the band. Only after it was initially released did Richter and Crissman decide to become Vibes Alive and formalize an arrangement that simply started out as an opportunity to write together and enjoy music. In common with the original CD, ‘After Hours’ features smooth jazz heavyweights Jeff Lorber, Luis Conte and Jimmy Johnson. They are joined by Gary Meek, Bob Summers and Vinnie Colaiuta for what is likely to become one of the most innovative recordings of the year.
Dirk Richter was, at the age of eight, already a serious vibraphone player. After high school, he studied at Pasadena City College and thoroughly immersed himself in the local Pasadena jazz scene. It was there that he met guitarist and composer Randall Crissman who, over the years, has enjoyed a string of writing credits for a wide range of film and television projects including Oprah, Dancing with the Stars and Access Hollywood.
‘After Hours’ is all about the musical escapism this combination of eleven original Richter – Crissman compositions provides. That said, although the beauty of the album is in its collective magic, individual highlights abound. The languidly shuffling beat of the title track is further lifted by Gary Meek’s cool sax and he also makes a significant contribution to the mid tempo ‘Lunch Truck’ for which Lorber on keys is also outstanding. Meek switches to flute for the zesty Latin infused ‘Sambahia’ while perhaps the most frenetic offering on the album is ‘Bright Lights’. This urgent concoction is spurred on by great guitar from Crissman, Richter’s infectious vibe rhythms and the nice addition of muted trumpet from Bob Summers.
‘Open Door’ is a sumptuously groove driven number that allows Richter on vibes and keyboards to weave jazzy patterns with the synthesizer of Lorber whilst the thoughtful ‘In The Garden’ provides another wonderful vehicle for Richter’s talents. It’s a track that provides Colaiuta on drums and Conte on percussion with the chance to really excel and the interplay between top notch musicians is a feature throughout. This is particularly so with ‘Blews Away’ where the sheer fun the band are having comes shining through and also very much in the groove is ‘Walk Away’. If ever there was a tune to typify the atmosphere that the vibraphone can routinely engender then this must be it. More stellar vibe work can be found on the distinctly Grusin like ‘Hard To Say Goodbye’ while the easy grooving ‘Lighthouse’ oozes sophistication from beginning to end. Amidst all these riches the Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite cut is ‘Magnolia’. Mellow yet compelling, this deconstructed delight might just get in your head and not go away.
With ‘After Hours’ Vibes Alive is delivering a brand of music a million miles removed from much of the formulaic contemporary jazz of today. Check it out.
