With a fusion-for-today mindset, savvy tech work and some imagination, New York guitarist Jack Broad amps up the cool factor on Current.This debut goes beyond the usual fretboard pyrotechnics as Broad putson a one-man show, not only laying down heated guitar licks but alsowriting, programming and delivering everything into the final product. While the music lies in the same vein as works by well-known guitarists Scott Henderson and Frank Gambale, Current'slittle touches—such as the atmospheric electronic effects on"Realm"—add a psychedelic touch. That track discreetly sets up thetitle track, a composition with a sci-fi attitude, keyboards, apulsating rhythm and Broad's sharped edged guitar playing. Broad's performance matches the music's intelligent design, from cleanor distorted riffs to intricate soloing ("Emanations") to a nastymoog-synth bass and hypno-club beat on the killer "Cold Cut." Tuneslike "Swamp Witch" have multiple-personalities—the Texas rock/bluesswagger of Stevie Ray Vaughan, a slow cooked jazz swing tempo and evena little grind-house horror movie to match. The remainingtracks don't wane. "Rise And Shine" has a rock-anthem quality, whereas"Never Coming Back" contains shadowy contours reminiscent of PinkFloydian dreamscapes. The lighter popping themes in "World Line" and"Nu Sounds" are equally hip; the former donned with odd dancesyncopation and the latter spinning a Nuevo-suave beat, a scorchingguitar solo and a closing with sampled R&B voice. High quality composition combined with Broad's creative DIY skills, make Current a totally fun release. www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31660

Usually just seeing the word "programming" makes me shudder. That feeling is soon followed by the lovely parabolic arc of the disc into the trash can. Don't get me wrong, programming has its place. It's just that it's almost never done correctly, many times creating more problems than it solves (and yes, I know all about drummer problems), not the least of which is a certain blandness. I'm happy to report that jazz guitarist Jack Broad knows what he's doing both in the areas of programming and guitar wrangling. "Swamp Witch" has Broad blowing crazed rock-like passages as well as reverb-soaked pedal tones. I'm reminded of early Bill Frisell as well as Guitar Shop-era Jeff Beck. It's a whole lot of fun and puts a modern stamp on what we used to look down on as fusion.

Jack, very solid material, been playing it ALL day yesterday and today at work on repeat and I am totally digging it! Really grows on ya with variety of compositions that are quickly engaging. I am gonna play it on my next show at JazzRock-Radio. com for sure!

The number of young jazz guitarists directly influenced by either Charlie Christian or Wes Montgomery is dwindling. Nowadays, the main guitar influences are Metheny, Scofield, Frisell, Abercrombie, and Rosenwinkel. Jack Broad describes the music on his Current CD as \"guitar-oriented, electronic, modern jazz/fusion.\" The recording is self-produced, to say the least, with \"all songs composed, programmed, performed, recorded and mixed by Jack Broad.\" He did not, however, do the mastering or take the photos. Despite that, this impressive debut will be much appreciated by lovers of contemporary jazz guitar, in all its many guises. \"Current\" contains a Metheny-like circular theme and an assertive Broad solo that most recalls Rosenwinkel in terms of structure, ideas, clean lines and ringing tone. Broad\'s sure technique extends beyond his proficient guitar playing. The seamless electronic keyboard, bass and drum tracks that he programmed and mixed are very engaging and complement his guitar work perfectly. Ethereal voices are effectively layered in at times as well. Elsewhere on the CD, Broad shows that he can rock out with the best of them and create more dissonant, highly provocative soundscapes, but on this title track he gives us an overview of his basic stylistic foundations, from which the possibilities are endless.