Mike Mainieri/Marnix Busstra Quartet "Twelve Pieces" (Rochester City Newspaper)

By Ron Netsky

It's hard to believe, but vibraphonist Mike Mainieri has been on the scene for five decades, recording and touring with groups ranging from the Buddy Rich Big Band to his own groundbreaking jazz-fusion group, Steps Ahead. Judging by his latest album, Mainieri is still looking ahead, this time teeming up with guitarist extraordinaire Marnix Busstra from the Netherlands. Busstra, who wrote 11 of the album's 12 tunes, is not only superb on acoustic and electric guitar, he is equally adept on more exotic instruments. The Mainieri/Busstra pairing becomes otherworldly, with unison vibes and electric sitar, on "Lost In Little Spain." A world music feel comes to the fore in pieces like "Kannada," with Busstra on bouzouki. On the latter Eric Van Der Westen adds excellent arco bass. The band, which also includes the fine playing of Pieter Bast on drums, leaps toward the avant-garde on "Where Am I" and Mainieri's "All In A Row."