The first thing that comes to mind when listening to
Tiger Walk is the pair of instrumental albums recorded by
Jeff Beck in the mid-'70s,
Blow by Blow and
Wired. Like those two recordings, this outing showcases a fiery, inventive electric guitarist in a rock and jazz-rock setting.
Robben Ford, known in recent years for his blues work with his band, the Blue Line, eschews vocals here, teaming up with keyboard funk master
Bernie Worrell for some chunky, funky, wah-wah-laden grooves. This music, led by
Ford's blazing guitar lines, is more appropriately categorized as instrumental rock than jazz, but the rhythms recall
James Brown and
Worrell's alma mater, the
P-Funk gang, as often as they do those of a hard rock band. Tenor saxophonist
Bob Malach turns in a couple of solid solos, and the rhythm section of drummer
Steve Jordan and bassist
Charlie Drayton cooks throughout. ~ Jim Newsom