Radio Caseman: TC Fusion at the Temple Jazz Festival, Thurs. 3/26/09

The three-day festival is held on the last weekend in March each year at the Mary Alice Marshall PAC on the Temple College campus in Temple, Texas. The 7-piece combo “TC Fusion” set the tone for the event with an awesome set to kick off the first night. The combo is comprised of TC faculty, except for Chris McBride, who is a student.

“TC Fusion” personnel:

Vincent Bryce, bass
Keith Fiala, trumpet
Benjamin Irom, piano
Reese Liles, guitar
Colin Mason, saxophones
Chris McBride, drums
Gary Smith, trombone

Set list:
1. “Against the Wall” (Dave Weckl) -- The first number had a rock-driving groove with a funky bass and featured a solo from Irom playing keyboard and Mason on tenor sax.

From 200903 Temple Jazz Fest -- Thursday

2. “The Necessary Blonde” (Tribal Tech) -- This tune was a “bass-workout” and began with Bryce playing in a 6/8 grove, and Fiala switching to flugelhorn. Solos included Smith on trombone, Bryce on bass, Lyles on guitar, Mason on tenor sax, and Irom on piano.

3. “Blue Miles” (Chic Corea) -- Irom switched over to electric keys with a “Rhodes” setting for this 4/4 rock-rhythm tune. Smith played a trombone solo, Lyles a guitar solo, and Fiala laid down an awesome flugelhorn solo using a plunger. This song really got cooking towards the end.

4. “Evensong” (Yellowjackets) -- This tune had a 4/4 soulful feel and began with Irom playing a gospel-style piano solo. The meat of the song featured some bluesy guitar work from Reese Liles (a la Robben Ford) and also a bone solo from Smith and a tenor sax solo from Mason.

From 200903 Temple Jazz Fest -- Thursday

5. “Chromosome” (Jim Payne Band) -- TC Fusion wrapped up their set with this funk/jazz tune which featured a guitar solo from Liles, Irom playing keys on a Hammond organ setting, and a tenor sax solo from Colin Mason.

At the end of the set all of the faculty members in the band congratulated and thanked drummer Chris McBride, who will be leaving TC after the spring semester to continue his studies at UT-Arlington.