Tony Williams

Tony Williams

The New Tony Williams Lifetime, "Believe It", Columbia

This is Tony's flrst date as a leader in several years. However, he's been about creating his own jazz-rock fusion since 1968 or so when he was playing drums tor Miles Davis on albums like "Filles De Kilimanjaro" and "In A Silent Way," through his experiments with John McLaughlin and Jack Bruce in his group "Emergency" and on to more recent efforts like "Ego" and "Bum's Rush."

While Tony's drum work has always been magnificent, the problem's remained as to how should he harness it. This "New Lifetime" is Detroiter Tony Newton, longtime bassplayer with The Miracles and organizer of the Eighth Day, bass; Alan Pasqua, keyboards; and Allan Holdsworth, electric guitar. their sound is very reminiscent of Return To Forever circa "Hymn of The 7th Galaxy" and "Where have I Known You Before," minus RTF's exciting excess.

What "Believe It" has in its favor is Newton's playing - powerfully propulsive, yet infinitely subtle and variable and a couple of memorable funky lines (Snake Oil," "Red Alert") written by Newton. However, despite a good group sound, Lifetime lacks soloists of distinction and passion. Pasqua and Holdsworth are rarely more than competent, and there's a coloristic sameness throughout that a saxophonist, for example, might have broken up nicely. An interesting if uneven, set.

--Bill Adler