A true champion of the electric bass guitar, Victor Bailey has distinguished himself as one of the greats on that instrument in the service of Weather Report, Weather Update, Steps Ahead, The Zawinul Syndicate and Madonna. As a leader he brings his impressive facility and undeniable groovepower to bear in the service of his own songs. An accomplished composer with an inherent musicality that goes well beyond the bass, Bailey strikes a nice balance between virtuosic chops and solid tunesmithing on Lowblow, his second recording as a leader and his debut on ESC Records.

Although it has been ten years between albums ( his Bottom´s Up on Atlantic came out 1990), the timing of Bailey´s Lowblow is right on the money. "In the last 20 years, by the time that my generation of guys was mature enough to become artists, everything became so different," he says. "Straight ahead became the sound of 30 or 40 years ago. And electric music became smooth jazz. I think a lot of us reached a point where we got fed up. I hadn´t made a record in ten years because every label wanted the radio thing. It took me that long time to run into a label guy (ESC Record´s Joachim Becker) who would let me just play my bass and record the music I wanted to record."

In tandem with a pair of unparalleled drummers in Omar Hakim and Dennis Chambers, Bailey grooves with authority on tunes like "Sweet Tooth", "Knee-Jerk Reaction" and the exceedingly funky Larry Graham tribute "Graham Cracker". Special guests Bill Evans and Kenny Garrett contribute their own virtuosity on soprano sax while stellar support is also given by Wayne Krantz on guitar, Jim Beard, Michael Bearden and Henry Hey on keyboards.

The burning samba flavored "Brain Teaser" is a stunning showcase of Victor´s single note prowess while the lovely, melancholy ballad "She Left Me" features some of his most lyrical playing on the record. He affects a warm, rounded upright bass tone on the piano trio ballad "Babytalk", which features Jim Beard on the Wurlitzer piano and Dennis Chambers flaunting some supple brushwork. The title track highlights Victor´s vocal scatting in union with his tight, staccato basslines and "Feels Like A Hug" is a melodic vehicle underscored by cleanly picked arpeggios and synth bass while also featuring some two handed tapping excursions on Victor´s solo.

Easily the most inspired track on Lowblow is Bailey´s vocalese treatment of the Jaco Pastorius signature piece "Continuum." Having memorized the song and the solo note for note when he was still a teenager, Victor would later put heartfelt words to the tune in memory of the late, great bassist who was such a towering influence on so many players.

"I wrote those lyrics about a week after Jaco died," says Victor. "I can´t even say that I wrote it...it just came through me. I wrote the lyrics exactly as they are in about ten minutes. I didn´t change a word from that first writing. They just kind of flowed out and it just happened. Of course, I knew the whole thing intimately because I spent half of my childhood practicing it. Every day after school I had my routine of things that I would do. And one was to play ´Continuum´ . I mean, I layed that song every day. To this day I can put that record on every day and listen to it. So I really knew the solo well and it seemed like the words already there. It was one truly inspired moment. It just happened and I´m very proud of it."

Selected Discography: Solo Album: Bottom´s Up Atlantic With Weather Report: Procession CBS Domino Theory CBS Sportin´ Life CBS This Is This CBS With Steps Ahead: Magnetic Electra Musician NYC NYC Records With Bill Evans: Escape ESC Records Touch ESC Records With Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate: World Tour ESC Records With Michael Brecker: Now You See It, Now You Don´t GRP With Lenny White: Present Tense Hip Bop Records

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