Oceana [CD]

The profile of keyboard player Derek Sherinian is probably at an all-time high, what with his membership of rock supergroup Black Country Communion. Their two albums have charted across the globe, and there's a live DVD on the way, so what better time than to punt out a new solo album. And, wise man that he is, that's exactly what he's done. Of course, even with his Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Yngwie Malmsteen pedigree, there's no guarantee that an instrumental keyboard album will get the punters excited. No, what you need are some top notch guest guitarists to add their widdle, where appropriate.

So, say hello to Tony Macalpine ('Five Elements', 'Mercury 7'), Toto guitarist Steve Lukather ('Mulholland', 'Euphoria', 'Seven Sins'), ex Billy Idol bandmate, Steve Stevens ('Ghost Runner', 'Oceana',), Whitesnake man, Doug Aldrich ('El Camino Diablo') and Black Country Communion compadre Joe Bonamassa ('I Heard That'). So that's the guitar fans sorted out. Now, what about some tunes.

Well, you won't be surprised to learn that it leans towards fusion and progressive rock, because that's where the musos go when they want to show off to everyone. And, to be fair, he's got plenty to show off about as the opening number, 'Five Elements', amply demonstrates, with some phenomenal percussive work from drumming legend Simon Phillips, who plays on the entire album, in fine style. If you're looking for some fine fusion, then the Steve Lukather tracks are your best bet, with the mellower 'Euphoria' the best of them.

My particular favourite was the stompingly enjoyable `El Camino Diablo` which gives Whitesnake man Doug Aldrich plenty of time to demonstrate his technical abilities away from Sir David Coverdale. The Joe Bonamassa track, 'I Heard That', is also a cracker, and shows Bonamassa veering away from his usual style into the realms of mid-seventies Jeff Beck. Bass duties are split between Jimmy Johnson, who has worked with the likes of Platypus, Albert Lee and Roger Waters, alongside Tony Franklin (Roy Harper, The Firm, Blue Murder), and they hold down the bottom end admirably.

Although it's an instrumental album, things never veer over into self indulgence, with the tracks all rooted in melody. It's a treat of a record, and one that comes highly recommended.

I agree with everything Mr H says, but I thought I would add my two penneth as a life long Jazz Rock and Fusion fan.

Sadly the recent review in Classic Rock incorrectly assumed that Derek was now finally able to attract big name guitarists via his new found fame with Black Country Communion. Well clearly they hadn't bothered to check out his previous albums featuring such guitar luminaries as Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Yngwie, Zakk Wylde, et al! Also the review likened this to Blow By Blow era Beck, but if anything it is more akin to the There and Back period of the maestro's work.

Steve Stevens, famous for his Top Gun guitar epic, turns in another sublimely melodic performance on the title track Oceanan and I too am pleasantly surprised by Joe Bonamassa's Beck'esque stylings.

The reason I think this is Derek's best album to date is consistency and restraint. Whilst restraint isn't a word often associated with fusion, here Derek steers clear of the histrionic overplaying of some of his previous guitar compadres (take note Zakk) and delivers a consistently listenable set of tunes with each guitarist turning in sympathetic and stirring performances. The Classic Rock review also, incorrectly, suggested that Derek sounded like a guest on his own album at times, but this misses the key point that he is the songwriter and as such does not have to contribute overbearing solos in each track.

I heartily recommend this album to existing Derek fans, and also to those newcomers to his music who have a penchant for classic fusion. To my mind Derek is the natural inheritor of Jan Hamer's crown as the most compatible keyboard player for guitarists, and on this album he pays respectful homage to Jan's pioneering style and that brief period of wonderfully exciting music that existed in the early to mid 70s.

As I was listening to this it suddenly came to mind the albums I bought in the early 1980's by Jeff Beck and his Wired album with Jan Hammer,I listened to that again and ending up enjoying the Jeff Beck album more.