Austrian Syndicate…the phrase immediately brings to mind the best-known and most influential of all Austrians in jazz, Joe Zawinul. And yet David Helbock’s project is much more than just a homage to his compatriot. It is a return to the roots of fusion jazz and how things developed from then on.

It is also a new direction stylistically for Helbock, who has harnessed a panoply of inspiration with a refreshing openness to new sounds from far and wide. As Helbock himself puts it: This is close to my heart.

This Austrian supergroup is also a place where Helbock’s stellar international guests shine brightly: Maria João, Fred Wesley, Dhafer Youssef, Alex Acuña and Lakecia Benjamin.

1. Money in the Pocket
2. Hymn to Vienna
3. The Third Man
4. Dinde Et Dindon
5. Ballad for Schönenbach
6. The Ups and Downs
7. Adventure
8. Grundbira Dance
9. Crimson Woman
10. We Need Some Help Down Here
11. Nuyorican
12. Komm, Lieber Mai Und Mache

The album opens on the vibrantly enthused Money in the Pocket and the veritably ethereal Hymn to Vienna and then proceeds to bring us the synth-tastic grooves within The Third Man, the infectious rhythms within Dinde Et Dindon, and both the atmospheric Ballad for Schönenbach and the drum-led funk of The Ups and Downs.

Along next is the shimmering cacophony that makes up Adventure and the pulsing Grundbira Dance and they are in turn backed by the Asian-hued tones within Crimson Woman, the glistening We Need Some Help Down Here, the recording rounding out on the drum-spined Nuyorican, closing on their interesting take on Mozat’s Komm, Lieber Mai Und Mache (featuring Maria João and her improvisational skills on vocals).

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