"Guitarist Greg Chako has a fat, aggressively beautiful
tone...
Whether pushing delicious lines along like he's in a Bop dream
state ("Smooth Ride"), or passing pianist Michael
Stanton a subtly different color feel to work from at the end
of his "Hunny Lady" solo, Chako's playing is consistently
satisfying. As a writer he has a talent for scoring long, involved
melodies that open like wings into the solo spaces. Check out
the opening " Tokong Burung" for instance, whose winding
melody employs tension and release masterfully. "French
Island Fantasy" could almost fit onto Pharoah Sanders "Thembi".
The superb "Afro-Asian Chant", reminiscent of McCoy
Tyners "Sama Layuca", heats up to boiling, staying
on the stove through a potent combination of cross rhythms and
kicks. The one traditional Guitar trio piece, "Ocean Blues",
is appropriately spacious, with Edmond Bransons' fine cymbal
work evoking the shimmer of white-capped waves. With a vibrant
recorded presence, this is
HUGELY enjoyable stuff!" - Larry
Nai, Cadence, New York, 2002 "...This is music
that transcends geographic boundaries and cultures, and communicates
the happiness and friendship that all music should provide...
Chakos' tunes are well-crafted, harmonically strong, with
catchy, memorable melodies (unlike many contemporary offerings
today). Chakos' tone and phrasing are exceptional! Thoughtfully
created and and perfectly executed, this is a very positive
musical statement from an extremely talented composer and
performer..." - Professor Vince
Lewis, for Just Jazz Guitar, USA Feb 2002
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"Greg is a proven guitarist and a great talent. Integration
II is full of nuances, integrating fusion, blues, and swing.
His guitar shines and he creates a new style, breathing exotic
jazz-ethno music full of spirit and solid musical foundation"
- Jazz Dimensions, Germany, 2002
"Integration I & II is the culmination of many studio hours,
tremendous discipline, concentration, and the ability to employ
all musical strengths in every composition. These two recordings
are a jazz mosaic painted with the very best of cultural,
ethnic, and musical sensibilities. That striking combination
provides a sumptuousness and extensiveness in the music that
is rarely found in any genre.
 Whether
it's the be-bop of 'Funky Monkey' or the gentle acoustic flow
of 'Smooth Ride' ala Joe Pass, this collection of songs has
something for everyone's taste. Every jazz discipline, or
parts thereof, is given an acknowledgement. Chako is up to
the task on the electric or acoustic six-string, allowing
the necessary elasticity for each song to build upon itself
and congeal. After over 130 minutes of a trip around the jazz
galaxy, I think it's safe to say that Greg Chako and his magnificent
band are one of the world's best kept secrets. The word is
now out; don't hesitate in seeking out this essential jazz
experience." - Keith 'MuzikMan'
Hannaleck, JazzReviews, USA, 2002
Integration II: "Chakos' strongest recording to date. "Tokong
Burung", is a locally-inspired extended composition. The inclusion
of didjeridu adds to the exotic sound mix while drums, percussion,
and tabla maintain the restless underlying beat. On "The Sweet
One", Chako shows off his sensitive side both as a composer
and a guitarist. "Smooth Ride" is a confident swinger with
a catchy call and response theme. French Island Fantasy has
soaring solos and a happy feel, despite an underlying tension
set up by the spacious first theme and the agitated funk of
the second theme. Fine Aussie Weathered is neatly swinging.
Ocean Blues marks a return to Chakos' trio roots, with a touch
of Wes Montgomery. The Hunny Lady is the only piece on the
album not written by Chako, and this breezy number is graced
by good solos." - Straits Times,
Singapore, 2001
"Greg Chako is a dynamic American jazz guitarist and
Integration II features the entire spectrum of swing, Latin
rhythms, blues, ballads, and Brazilian drum sounds. It's an
exotic mix of diverse jazz melodies, each offering a unique
sound and feel. The guitar playing is delivered with a warmth
and precision, providing an inspirational element to all tracks.
Chakos' tropical island inspirations can clearly be heard
on aptly titled tracks like French Island Fantasy and Afro-Asian
Chant. With Chako covering nearly every jazz style in one
package, this is ideal listening for first time jazz listeners
as well. It's enjoyable from start to finish, with Chako and
his band delivering well-crafted melodies and harmonies with
a unique combination of instruments played to perfection!
" - Sound Waves Magazine, Don
Sikorski, USA
" Integration II continues the trend (of Integration
I), but with more fusion elements. Solid and entertaining
modern jazz with Latin, straight ahead, and contemporary/fusion
based songs. Performance 4 stars, Sound 4 stars" - Jazz
Newsletter O's Place, USA
Integration II
Greg Chako
(Chako Productions) |
