It’s been a half-century since the death of jazz fusion, according to a recent piece by Stereogum columnist Phil Freeman. But the technically and technologically exploratory tradition is still a big influence on a ton of standout contemporary musicians — Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington and Thundercat, to name just a few. Inner Principles is the latest solo LP from ace guitarist, composer and bandleader Sean Thompson as part of his Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears project, and the heady now-retro futuristic vision of jazz fusion plays a big part in it.
The core band is a trio of Thompson with Eric Slick on drums and Alec Newnam on bass. Also performing are Jake Davis (who produced and engineered the record and plays synthesizers on it), Thompson’s Shrunken Elvis multi-instrumentalist bandmate Rich Ruth (on guitar here) and inventive keyboard queen Jo Schornikow. There are dazzling displays of instrumental prowess, judicious use of the whole trick bag of effects to create otherworldly sounds, and thoughtful arrangement whether a given segment is composed or improvised.
But Inner Principles isn’t just a stylistic exercise in fusion. There's a wealth of other related traditions in the mix, and Thompson and company use the sonic palette to paint vivid pictures. Following the acoustic introduction “Almost a Year,” “Whitethorn Rose” uses contrast between a busy rhythm section and a loping, curling motif on diode-spanking fuzz guitar to create a feeling of gracefully surviving chaos. “Requiem for the Canopy” has layers of Jan Hammer-esque synth and guitar sounds (plus copious reverb and delay) that give the impression of the wind blowing through trees that are dying out or are gone already. The bittersweet closer “Waltz for Mama” lingers and twirls, like reflections in a memory. And there’s plenty more to discover when you take a dive in.
Get the record on Bandcamp or pop it into the queue on your favorite streaming service. Keep an eye on Thompson’s Instagram profile for info on shows (which he’ll be booking around touring duties with Margo Price), and to check out some fun explainer vids on the Inner Principles songs.
