RONALD SHANNON JACKSON — Decode Yourself (review)

RONALD SHANNON JACKSON — Decode Yourself album cover Album · 1985 · Eclectic Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
When this album came out in the mid-80s, Ronald Shannon Jackson was making a timely but not quite successful attempt to tie together many disparate musical trends of that time period including; the return of NYC style free jazz, early hip-hop drum machine patterns, post-punk thrash guitar jams and an eclectic approach to fusion that defied the bland uniform 'fuzak' of the late 70s. Unfortunately the 80s (there's a song on here called 'Software Shuffle') was all about electronic drums, and this album has that Simmons sound in abundance. In fact the crash bang of the garbage can lids on every downbeat on 'Thieves Market' is enough to drive anyway crazy, or crazy enough to get up and move to the next song. The influence of Ornette Coleman's 'free-funk' Prime Time ensemble (Jackson was a founding member) is large. The exotic languid melodies that are uniquely scored for sax, trombone and violin, all sound like they could have been penned by Ornette himself. Likewise, the guitar work of then rising star and ex-Ornette sideman Vernon Reid is also a strong presence. Reid's ability to mix modern jazz with the latest developments in metal and hardcore punk are used to good effect as he leads the band into really rockin heavy fusion the likes of which hadn't been heard since the glory days of McLaughlin's duels with Billy Cobham in Mahavishnu.

This album was a real trendy groundbreaker when it came out. but I don't know how well it translates today. On side two, 'Undressing' features a pounding Simmons beat with Prince styled synth stabs while the horn/string section plays a mournful Ornette styled lengthy minor key melody. It doesn't sound as much innovative anymore as just weird. For fans of Jackson's thrash/jazz drumming, he does turn off the machines occasionally and tears it up with Reid and the others on some crazy free jazz as well as some hardcore influenced jazz-rock. Overall this is an uneven album, but one that has some good cuts and great moments scattered throughout.
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