CD: Endo Ecto Morpho

Home: Elwood, Indiana

Style: Electronic Jazz Fusion

Quote: "His solo concerts use close to 230 different instruments including different native instruments".

Intro/general thoughts: As a Hoosier, I always like to review Indiana artists so I can get an idea of what’s going on in my home state. Man, was I surprised when I heard Brian Paulson’s latest CD “Endo Ecto Morpho.” Performed and produced completely by Paulson, it’s a jazz journey into the realms of what one great musician can do with a lot of different instruments and a whole lot of ability.

Type of Music: Electronic jazz fusion. Guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, and pianos.

Hometown: Elwood, IN

Notable: In addition to his numerous awards and compositions (Paulson was a winner in Keyboard Magazine’s 20th Anniversary Reader’s Keyboard Competition), Brian Paulson has performed in concert with Dizzy Gillespie, Airto and Flora Purim, Spyro Gyra, Kathy Mattea, Papa John Creech, and Donald Byrd and The Blackbirds. His solo concerts use close to 230 different instruments including different native instruments.

Highs: The album rocks in some places, and is smooth and relaxing in others. It featured his writing abilities on some tracks, and showcased his playing skills in others. The album hit all my jazz hot buttons.

Lows: The first track, “We Are Not Alone,” didn’t give me a clue of the music that was going to follow. I thought this was going to be a complete free-form jazz album. Everything that followed that track fits into the previous “High” category, but “We Are Not Alone” didn’t seem to fit with the 19 other tracks.

Fans: If you’re a fan of Laurie Anderson, Spyro Gyra, or 3hole Punch (reviewed right here on Indie-Music.com), then “Endo Ecto Morpho” is definitely worth your time.

Foes: People who need lyrics to their songs.

Production notes: The whole album is well-engineered and well balanced. Since it didn’t list anything on the CD cover, I can only assume Paulson mixed and engineered his own stuff. If that’s the case, then his engineering skills are beaten only by his musical skills.

Promo notes or Indie-Notes: Endo Ecto Morpho is a completely home-grown package, from the producing, performing, and distributing. Even the CD cover is homemade. That shows a serious love of, and commitment to, his music, and his desires to get it out to the people.

Summary: In the realm of jazz fusion, it usually takes a group of several people to put out a decent sound. Brian E. Paulson has managed to do it all on his own, with an armada of instrumentation, and a whole lot of creativity and talent.

Artist website: www.music-for-the-soul.com

(Aeon Records)