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UZEB
Fast Emotion
Paroles & Musique - 1982
Mike Milner
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The genre of music in the 1970s known as fusion is usually defined as an amalgam of jazz and rock. That definition is perhaps an oversimplification and probably has more to do with our insistence on labeling everything as opposed to just letting the music speak for itself. It does need to be acknowledged, however, that the younger generation of musicians who had been raised on rock and roll wanted to bring those musical sensibilities to the more complex world of jazz. Most importantly, the replacement of acoustic instruments (the normal component of a jazz group) with electric ones provided opportunities for a new sonic palette, one that would allow the musicians to create and explore different sounds and techniques.
One of the better groups to perform this type of music was UZEB. UZEB started out in 1976 in Drummondville, Quebec as a duo comprising Alain Caron on bass and Michel Cusson on guitar but evolved fairly quickly into a quartet in Montreal with the addition of a drummer and keyboardist. They became quite popular in their home province despite performing a style of music that is generally more of an acquired taste. I suspect that had to do primarily with the band's superlative musicianship and to a lesser degree with the parochialism of Quebecois culture. (UZEB have always been exclusively francophone, although the members have worked with some very prominent musicians such as Michael Brecker.)
In 1982, UZEB - at the time Caron and Cusson along with Paul Brochu (drums) and Michel Cyr (keyboards) - released their initial studio album, Fast Emotion, on the Quebec label Paroles & Musique. With nine tracks overall and with no song over six minutes, the LP was an excellent representation of the instrumental prowess and musical sophistication the group possessed.
One interesting aspect of UZEB was their headlong dive into cutting-edge technology and their enthusiasm for incorporating it into their sound. The all-instrumental Fast Emotion featured plenty of guitar-based synth as well as the usual keyboard-based sort. This isn't just a 'chops-fest' with hyperdrive tempos and endless soloing. It is a record with actual songs (which may account for the band's popularity, both at home and abroad). Yes, there are loads of opportunities for the boys to strut their stuff, which they do with great virtuosity, but it is always in the context of what works best for the song and in conjunction with the musical contributions from the other members.
A couple of standout tracks are the aptly named 'Slinky' and the more uptempo 'Brass Licks'. The former starts off with Caron on his fretless bass laying down a seriously infectious groove and then really opens up as he is joined by guitar and then later drums and keyboard. The dancefloor-friendly 'Brass Licks' features the talented Caron displaying his slap technique on fretted bass. It has a simple but catchy melody, probably played by the guitarist through his synth, and is a prime example of how accessible this band was to its audiences in Quebec and Europe. I had the good fortune of catching them at a small club in Toronto back in 1983 or '84 and I can still vividly recall watching Caron soloing, especially on 'Brass Licks'.
UZEB would work as a quartet throughout most of the eighties before paring down to a guitar, bass and drums trio. The band decided to take an extended hiatus in 1992. All of the musicians were in heavy demand as session players and as individual artists, which may have contributed to the decision. They reunited in 2017 for a tour, although it doesn't appear that there are any permanent plans to reform. To their credit, UZEB have received a number of awards, including the 1991 Oscar Peterson Lifetime Achievement, which was presented that year during their performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. During their heyday they were regular performers at jazz festivals not only here in Canada but also in Europe. And they also enjoyed record sales in excess of 200,000 copies, really quite remarkable for an instrumental jazz fusion group.
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