RICHARD D. RUTTENBERG: “Vibrations” (release date April 13, 2021)

Cosmic Vibration

The Stuff of Life

“In yoga (and other spiritual traditions), it’s believed that there is one universal cosmic intelligent vibration. That vibration is articulated through the sound OM, or AUM. It’s also expressed in the form of light, therefore, light, as well as sound, have the infinite potential to heal, transform, and bring us into greater and more expansive levels of awareness.” (Yogapedia)

So…incredibly gifted AND incredibly prolific composer/musician/producer/reader/thinker Richard D. Ruttenberg (15 albums under his name, and counting, since 2016) has penned this paean of tribute to big-brain psychiatrist/author, the late Dr. John E. Mack.

Dr. Mack, who took seriously the stories of people who reported that they were abducted by aliens, who co-founded Physicians for Social Responsibility- a pro-peace, anti-nuke body of like-minded big-brain scientists, who authored best selling books, and taught at prestigious universities like Harvard and Cambridge- and who hosted Richard at his home.

BECAUSE, by some cosmic ‘accident’ Mr. Ruttenberg happened to have been placed as roommate to Dr. Mack’s son, while both were in music school(!).

Dr. Mack

VIBRATIONS

One could argue that music itself, not to mention human and animal speech, is ‘vibrations’, and Dr. Mack’s contention was that the aliens communicated with these humans through vibrations.

Thus, the title of this album.

The Music

For me, these 12 tracks are best characterized by the term “ruttenberg fusion“- a descriptive term I did not coin, but one that I cannot improve upon. It includes on this album all-instrumental tracks with Ruttenberg’s many-hued synthesizer sounds and keyboard textures, programming, and layers, setting up very groove-laden tunes, some vibrant and funky, and others more chill and sensuous.

HOWEVER! The tunes that on the surface resemble some cool jazz-fusion, or funk grooves, or electronica, are forever and always ‘subverted’ by cosmic swirls, insistent click-track-type E-drums, programmed sounds, space-travel and electronic sound effects, that weave in and out, forming a somewhat contradictory and ear-catching tapestry.

Big Brain Ruttenberg

THEN

Ruttenberg assembles- as often seems to be the case- a crack outfit of guitarists and bassists, with occasional keyboard and programming wizards, to further add some real-life elements to the compositions.

So Eddie Kohen‘s and Richard Gascoine‘s punchy, lithe, resonant bass guitar lines, and the three guitarists who bring some serious jazz panache, create spark and sizzle, again all interwoven into this mind-melding tapestry.

I’m telling you- this is captivating, sophisticated, winsome music being made- and leads to my major ‘wish’ about this music: A human drummer, and other human instrumentalists, who I believe add serious heft, humanity, and creativity to the mix.

EACH TRACK

There is certainly a ‘concept’ here, yet each track while tied in with, and related to, every other track, has a unique sound and spin. I often add an asterisk to tracks that for me really stand out as I review an album.

In this case I highlighted tracks 4, 6, 8, and 11- but had to restrain myself from marking each track.

The experience of this music which I hear operating on multiple levels, brings a depth of complexity that requires a casual listen…that becomes a bit more focused…

…and then yet another to fully begin to grasp what THESE vibrations are communicating.

SO…

Hey, I have a lot fewer marbles than these guys, but I suggest that this is yet another strong statement from Richard D. Ruttenberg.

I’m not saying he’s tuned into other aspects within the multiverse that others of us don’t access as well as he does, but who knows?

Richard D. Ruttenberg links: bandcamp– https://rdruttenberg.bandcamp.com/; facebook–https://www.facebook.com/RuttenbergFUSION/

Progressive Rock Fanatics private facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595398647223538/?multi_permalinks=1413972172032844&notif_t=like&notif_id=1503396208171776