Mohini Dey – Coloured Goddess
Album: Mohini Dey
Mohini Dey: Electric Bass, Gino Banks: Drums, Daniel Szebenyi: Keyboards, Mark Hartsuch: Aux Keys
January 2, 2024
Is fusion still alive? Do today’s 20-somethings even know what fusion is, or was? Well, Mohini Dey’s self-released 2023 album should answer both of those questions and more. I remember bands like Mahavishnu, Return to Forever, and Weather Report displaying great musicianship and sometimes angular melodies that demanded your attention. Google any of Ms. Dey’s videos, and your attention will be demanded. Her electric bass work is ridiculously good. Ridiculously. Good.
Listening to this absolutely gorgeous track reminds me of so much from the seventies that represented the best of the fusion era … the summery melody hearkens to Stanley Clarke’s “Quiet Afternoon”, the singing along with her melody line recalls George Benson’s “This Masquerade”, the funky Fender Rhoads-influenced break channels early Jeff Lorber at his best. The emergence of new jazz talent bursting onto the music scene in recent years should warm the hearts of many a jazz fan. Watch then, for Mohini Dey, because she’s next.
Is fusion still alive? Hell yeah.
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