''Cosmic Farm'' is an album by bassist

Rob Wasserman Rob Wasserman (April 1, 1952 – June 29, 2016) was an American composer and bass player. A Grammy Award and NEA grant winner, he played and recorded with a wide variety of musicians including Bob Weir, Bruce Cockburn, Elvis Costello, Ani di F ...

, guitarist Craig Erickson, keyboardist

T Lavitz Terry "T" Lavitz (April 16, 1956 – October 7, 2010) was an American keyboardist, composer and producer. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead. Biography Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey. He s ...

, and drummer

Jeff Sipe Jeff Sipe (born January 31, 1959), also known as Apt. Q258, is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer but is proficient in other styles. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Bruce Hampton. He was a member of Le ...

. It was recorded in California, and was released in 2005 by

Tone Center Records Tone Center Records is a record label devoted to jazz fusion. It was founded by Mike Varney, who started the rock music label Shrapnel Records in 1980. The label grew out of Varney's admiration for the jazz fusion of the 1970s and groups such as ...

. Bassoonist Paul Hanson also appears on four tracks. In the album liner notes, Erickson wrote: "we only spent a minimal amount of time to rehearse and record, going for a 'raw play like you feel in the moment' vibe... like the days when there were no stylistic boundary rules, just the freedom to be yourself and have a little fun jamming."

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Hal Horowitz called the recording "a solid, incredibly well played album," and wrote: "Although released in 2005, it's a knowing throwback to the jazz-rock fusion of '70s acts such as Jeff Beck, John Scofield, Return to Forever, Allan Holdsworth, Dixie Dregs... and any number of similar acts that generally favored instrumental dexterity over the compositional and melodic... There is something rather charming in the retro-ness of the concept since there aren't many jazz fusion albums being released in the mid-'00s." Producer and reviewer George Graham described the album as "one of those associations that works well, combining first-class musicianship with decent writing and a great spirit of communication among the quartet." He commented: "they bring just the right combination of jam ethic with musical discipline to create a CD that is not too heavy on musical complexity, nor too loose with the solos... ''Cosmic Farm'' is a good place for a jam-band fan to start, and it's also a CD likely to be well-received by long-time fusion fans."

Track listing

# "Steel Rider" (Craig Erickson) – 5:16 # "Attitude Cat" (Craig Erickson) – 6:46 # "Heavenly Love" (Craig Erickson) – 6:33 # "Space Rooster" (Craig Erickson) – 5:21 # "The Fine Scenery" (Craig Erickson) – 7:15 # "Interstellar Interlude" (Craig Erickson/Rob Wasserman) – 0:54 # "Strange Train" (Craig Erickson) – 6:27 # "Jupiter East" (Craig Erickson/Rob Wasserman) – 1:39 # "Forecast" (Craig Erickson) – 8:06 # "Jupiter West" (Craig Erickson/Rob Wasserman) – 1:43

Personnel

* Craig Erickson – guitar *

– electric upright bass *

– keyboards *

– drums * Paul Hanson – bassoon (tracks 6–8, 10)

References

{{Reflist 2005 albums Tone Center Records albums Jeff Sipe albums