Vision Jazz is Burt Shur (Durms and Percussion) and Chuck Leichner (Key and Composition).  On their 2009 release, “Distant Vision” Greg Vail (Sax) and Eduardo “Bijoux” Barbosa (Bass) join them.  The resulting album is a collection of music that runs the gambit from Traditional, to Contemporary, to Smooth Jazz, with a little Funk thrown in for good measure. 
 
Now normally, I only review the songs that you can hear on the website.  But, the boys gave me the whole album to listen to.  Here is what I have to say on Vision Jazz’s “Distant Vision”.  Starting with the songs that you can hear right here on USNewJazz.com

“Tuesday’s Groove”
More of a “traditional” jazz tune here in the sense that everyone starts together, then goes their own way and, comes back to finish it off.  A good showcase of the four’s talents in what I describe as an upbeat shuffle beat. 

“Night Watch”
A high-energy song with more a jazz-funk feel to it.

“South Philly”
This song reminds of a night I spent watching David Sanborne and Joey Defranco in Niagara Falls.  A soulful upbeat melody with a nice splash of keys for a little bit of attitude.

The Rest Of The Album:
For me this collection has something of a “retro feel” to it.  It reminds me why I was first attracted to the jazz genre way back in my teens.  Some of the best songs on this album for me would have to be the ballads.  “Evening Skies” and “The Very Reason” are beautiful melodies, wonderfully played.  However, for the most part, this is a high-energy fusion of jazz and funk.

Jeff’s Favorite:  One of the ballads that is not on the website “Evening Skies”.

Jeff’s Final Thoughts:  
Drums and percussion are one of those things that do not tend to be noticed unless they are not that great.  This is not the case with Vision Jazz.  Burt Shur adds a dynamic element to each of the tracks on this CD.  It just goes to show how having a drummer that knows what he is doing, can make all the difference.

Jeff Niziol
USNewJazz.com
February 2011
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