Mark Varney Project

Mark Varney Project (MVP) was a short-lived collaborative project put together by Mark Varney, brother of Shrapnel Records founder Mike Varney.

Truth in Shredding
Studio album by
The Mark Varney Project
Released1990 (1990)
StudioSilverlake Sound Studios, Los Angeles; The Brewery, North County, San Diego; Front Page Recorders, Costa Mesa
GenreJazz fusion
Length55:08
LabelLegato
ProducerMark Varney, Frank Gambale
The Mark Varney Project chronology
Truth in Shredding
(1990)
Centrifugal Funk
(1991)

Truth in Shredding

Truth in Shredding is the first studio album by the Mark Varney Project (MVP), released in 1990 through Legato Records[1] and reissued on 4 November 2003, through Tone Center Records. Mark founded Legato in the 1980s, which served as a jazz-oriented counterpart to the rock stylings of Shrapnel.[2] This line-up of the group features guitarists Frank Gambale and Allan Holdsworth. Besides one track written by Gambale, the rest are covers of existing jazz fusion compositions.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Robert Taylor at AllMusic awarded Truth in Shredding four stars out of five, calling it "a very intense fusion recording that can be an intimidating listen both in terms of technique and the consistent intensity maintained throughout." He recommended it for fans of jazz fusion, progressive and heavy metal, and particularly for younger fans of guitar music, saying they "will appreciate the extended solos and lack of any commercial hooks here." While highlighting Gambale and Holdsworth's outstanding playing abilities, Taylor noted that they "quickly run out of ideas and continuously revert back to familiar territory". Tom Brechtlein's drumming was praised as a "fine performance".[1]

Track listing

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Rocks"Randy Brecker7:01
2."Humpty Dumpty"Chick Corea6:31
3."The Fall"Wayne Shorter8:15
4."Not Ethiopia"Michael Brecker9:36
5."New Boots"Frank Gambale6:24
6."Ana Maria"Shorter9:15
7."Bathsheba"Michael Brecker8:16
Total length:55:08

Personnel

Centrifugal Funk
Studio album by
The Mark Varney Project
Released1991 (1991)
StudioFront Page Recorders, Costa Mesa, California; Kiva Recording, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreJazz fusion
Length61:18
LabelLegato
ProducerMark Varney, Jimmy Earl
The Mark Varney Project chronology
Truth in Shredding
(1990)
Centrifugal Funk
(1991)
Alternative cover

Centrifugal Funk

Centrifugal Funk is the second and final studio album by the Mark Varney Project (MVP), released in 1991 through Legato Records; a remastered edition was reissued in 2004 through Tone Center Records.[3] This line-up of the group features guitarists Frank Gambale, Brett Garsed and Shawn Lane.[4] The album consists primarily of covers of existing jazz fusion compositions, save for one track performed by Lane—"Lane's Blitz"—which he later dismissed as an impromptu warm-up rather than a planned solo, and thus his dislike for it.[5] Varney has disputed Lane's version of events,[4] but the track was omitted on the remaster.

The cover art on the original release features a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer to listeners: "Warning: Contains guitar performances of unparalleled speed, taste and virtuosity. Not for the faint of heart!", while the back cover has an invitation from Varney asking fans to send in demo tapes of potential guitarists for his label, in return for a named mention within the credits on a future album, as well as five Legato releases mailed to them for free.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

Robert Taylor at AllMusic rated Centrifugal Funk three stars out of five, calling it "an exhausting listen" and the songs "fairly weak". Praise was given to the individual talents of Gambale, Garsed and Lane, while criticism was directed at drummer Joey Heredia. "Hey Tee Bone" and "Love Struck" were listed as highlights.[3]

Track listing

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Actual Proof"Herbie Hancock7:38
2."So What"Miles Davis9:44
3."Hey Tee Bone"Tony Fisher, Timothius Davis5:33
4."Tokyo Blue"Najee, Morris Pleasure7:20
5."Splatch"Miles Davis11:59
6."Elegant People"Wayne Shorter9:59
7."Lane's Blitz[nb 1]"Shawn Lane0:36
8."Lovestruck"Jesse Johnson8:29
Total length:61:18

Personnel

Notes

  1. Not present on the 2004 remaster.

References

  1. Taylor, Robert. "Truth in Shredding – Allan Holdsworth / Frank Gambale / MVP / Mark Varney Project". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. Monk, Laurie (13 June 2010). "Mark Varney: Legato interview with Laurie Monk". Truth in Shredding. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. Taylor, Robert. "Centrifugal Funk – MVP". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  4. Monk, Laurie (13 June 2010). "Mark Varney: Legato interview with Laurie Monk". Truth in Shredding. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  5. Hallebeek, Richard (March–April 2001). "Shawn Lane + lesson" Archived 2017-04-07 at the Wayback Machine. richardhallebeek.com. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
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