SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARK EGAN/SHAWN PELOT/SHANE THERIOT – CROSS CURRENTS

MARK EGAN/SHAWN PELOT/SHANE THERIOT
CROSS CURRENTS
WAVETONE RECORDS

Mark Egan has made a name for himself as a solo artist, a collaborator, and as a member of Pat Metheny’s band. Egan may be known as a jazz musician, but he is much more than that. He has done a great deal of studio/session work as well. For his last album, he joined up with Danny Gottlieb (2020’s Electric Blue). Now, for Cross Currents, he has gone one step further and is working as a powerhouse trio. Here he teams up drummer Shawn Pelot (Saturday Night Live Band and numerous session credits) and guitarist Shane Theriot (musical director for Daryl Hall and John Oates and session credits). Both musicians are seasoned players and producers. They also come from different disciplines and genres.

The trio has come together and recorded an album that defies category. It is not jazz or even jazz-fusion, but rather, as the title Cross Currents says, it is a cross between many different sounds, styles, and genres. It is a remarkable album, full of brilliant playing, but most importantly, a great deal of emotion. Even though it is instrumental, the musicians convey a great deal through their playing and the mix of styles. Quite simply, there is a lot going on with this album.

It opens with the Theriot composition, “Pontchartrain”, a very upbeat, breezy rock song, with an incredible solo. The song highlights his acoustic playing but also features a searing guitar solo that is almost unbelievable. Egan provides a very melodic bass and Pelot holds it together with his expert drumming. And this is just the first track. It certainly sets the stage for what is to come.

Egan and Theriot came up with the wistful “Blue Sky” together, which features a wonderful sparse arrangement. Although Egan wrote the majority of the album, Theriot offers up other great songs such as “Sunflower” and “Homebrew”, a song that harkens back to older rock guitar sounds and it works. Pelot brought “Nonc Rodell” to the party. This is a loving tribute to his uncle (‘Nonc’ is a Cajun term for ‘uncle’). Pelor provides inspiring drumming during the song and it is a beautiful piece.

Egan writes strong melodies as well and has come up with a number of songs that are intriguing and engaging. “Sand Castles” is a very moving song that takes me back to my childhood while listening to the incredible bass and tune. His tribute to jazz trumpeter and composer, Lew Soloff (“For Lew Soloff With Love”) is another heartbreaking song that says a great deal without any vocals. It is a work of art. The last track on the album is the far too short “Ode To Jaco”, a song for Egan’s fellow Pat Metheny band member, legendary Jaco Pastorius III. Again, this is a heartfelt piece that says a great deal.

Cross Currents is a strong album, which should be listened to with headphones. There is a lot going on throughout the music and the listener will have a much better experience with headphones than listening to it through speakers. It is a strong album full of different sounds, with jazz being the flexible foundation. There is a lot to discover throughout, and it should attract new fans for all three artists. Even though they are serious about their playing and the tributes, this album does have a spirit of fun. It is an enjoyable ride, and one can hear three very seasoned players enjoying playing music.

SPILL FEATURE: CROSS CURRENTS – A CONVERSATION WITH MARK EGAN

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