Bernie Mora & Tangent

No Agenda

Rhombus Records

The San Antonio based guitarist Bernie Mora stepped out front in 2013. He formed his band Tangent and they released their debut recording “Dandelion”. Tangent is an instrumental jazz fusion group that mixes funk, and rock into their sound. Their music can best be described as Spyro Gyra on steroids. In 2016 they released their third album “Transformation” also on Rhombus Records.

The six-piece ensemble includes Mora, guitars; Corey Allen, keyboards; Doug Webb, saxes and flute, Lee Thornburg, trumpets and trombone, and the new rhythm section of Daniel Becker, bass and acoustic 12 string; and Charles Godfrey, drums and percussion.

Mora states that the new rhythm section “brought an energy level I hadn’t felt in a while”. Mora calls Webb his L.A. connection and the saxophonist has been with him since the beginning. Mora adds keyboardist Allen’s “use of grand piano, organ, clavinet and strings is superb…he added such texture and flavor to all the songs”. Lee Thornburg’s credits include Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, Lowell George, Chicago, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, The Tonight Show Band, and Tower of Power…Mora continues “he and Webb did a fantastic job on recording full horn sections to fill out these tunes’. “This is Tangent the way it was meant to be!”

The opener “Mon Cheri” features Webb’s sax, Mora’s rock styled guitar and the funky rhythm section. The funk continues on “Commando Roll”. Mora’s guitar playing is ferocious on the title track and on “Doc The Clock”, a tribute to Mora’s late drummer Doc Anthony, featuring Becker’s walking bass. A new version of “Take Me Away”, is reprised from Tangent’s previous album.    The intense “Cup A Joe” and the bluesy “Pale Moon Funk” follow. The airy “It’s a Honu World” includes a Hawaiian Chant sung by Leilani Rivera Low, and Eri Unsworth on fretless bass.

Mora melds the genres that have been his influences: funk, rock and jazz. This is the sound of the incomparable Bernie Mora and Tangent.

Richard Ludmerer