[CD Review] Legendary Drummer Lenny White’s New Project is a Doozy

M.E.B.
That You Not Dare To Forget
Legacy Recordings

Wow. That’s all one could say upon hearing That You Not Dare To Forget by M.E.B. (formerly Miles Electric Band). This amazing amalgam of hiphop and jazz is a stunning reminder that Miles Davis [1926-1991] never looked back, always looked forward to the next musical adventure which would capture his soul. He let the chips fall where they may. It is in that spirit that this ensemble of Miles Davis alumni and contemporary hip-hop and jazz artists who are directly influenced by The Master have come together for five tracks of pure bliss.

The key figure is drummer/composer/icon/producer/keyboardist/educator Lenny White from Teaneck in Bergen County. (He will be seen in Director Fulvio Cecere’s hotly-anticipated feature documentary The Jersey Sound, due later this spring.) The Grammy Award-winning White composed, produced and performed—be it on drums or synthesizer—throughout. He was the drummer for jazz-rock fusion’s pioneering 1970s super-group Return To Forever with the late pianist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and guitarist Al Di Meola from Jersey City (who will also be seen in Fu’s doc).  White also played on the seminal 1970 Miles album Bitches Brew. He wrote these new songs with a cast that is truly mind-boggling:  guitarists John Scofield and Vernon Reid, legendary bassist Ron Carter (still going strong at 85), tenor bassist Stanley Clarke, rapper Blu, Rolling Stones touring bassist Darryl Jones, trumpeter Wallace Roney and Miles himself (taken from never-before-released tapes).

LINK: M.E.B. – That You Not Dare To Forget

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