Album Release
In 2008 I released “China Ranch”, an album of 10 original instrumental compositions which consistently received 4 star reviews from Modern Drummer Magazine, iTunes, All Music, All About Jazz and other music magazines from Japan to the Netherlands. You can find it on all streaming services including; Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Emusic, Deezer, Pandora and others. Special thanks to Brian Price, Steve Weingart, and Kit Walker, whose contributions brought the project and compositions to another level. And very special thanks to all who purchased it.
Liner Notes by Jeffrey Davis
Drummer, Composer Frank Briggs is joined by an All-Star group of musical soul mates on his first solo release; a breathtaking collection of compositions that celebrate the power of hope amid adversity. Inspired by a spectacular desert oasis, China Ranch takes us on a journey of musical exploration and virtuosity as expressed by an artist blessed with curiosity, compassion … and serious chops.
China Ranch is a real place, a family owned date farm in the Mojave Desert, not far from Southern Death Valley. But channeled through this music, China Ranch is not merely a destination; it is a journey into the soul, navigated by a performer at the peak of his talents.
Briggs and his amazing bandmates have pulled off an astonishing feat: The technique is mesmerizing and masterful while also maintaining an emotional truth that makes a cohesive statement.
Supple melodies dance over shape-shifting modes and contrasting instrumental voicings. The players carve deep jazz- and funk-based grooves while playfully displacing beats and inverting expectations around every corner. Driving everything is the deft and explosive pulse created by the composer, producer and engineer of this project.
Musically inventive and as sonically lush as the desert flowers that inspire these tracks, China Ranch is Frank Briggs’ musical thank you note to a locale which proves that even the most barren and forbidding places we know can bear fruit of remarkable sweetness. …
All Music/iTunes
On China Ranch, Frank Briggs writes a Return To Forever-esque treatment of ten killer tracks that display strong drumming, Rhodes and synths, guitar and bass soloing. The compositions, inspired by a visit to the family-owned date farm in the Mojave Desert, keep an eye on the jazz-rock fusion tradition pioneered by such influences as Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Pat Metheny and others, while still moving the genre forward.
On “Desert Flower” the solos run the gamut from lush, modern electronics and dramatic harmonies to wide-open solo sections for Kit Walker on Synth and Brian Price on guitar. Briggs’ powerful and rhythmic drumming keeps this song musically focused, energetic and shifting freely between the jazz and rock elements.
“Tecopa Moon” may be too hip for the room, as they say, since its laid-back ambience and walking bass lines is an example of how Briggs’ arrangement takes an electronic marvel to another level of melodic excellence. The feel shifts from the very beginning and the tempo ranges from Briggs’ moderately slow drumming and soundscapes to the lightning fast guitar licks of both Price and Jeff Miley.
The title track, “China Ranch” features twists and turns with surprises and a funky groove that will have both the band and their listeners enjoying themselves through this musical ride. The entire recording is beautifully conceived, expertly crafted and is a must for fans of jazz-rock fusion
Paula Edelstein; (All Music Guide)
All About Jazz
Regardless of the myriad labels thrust upon it, good music is simply good music. With that stated, drummer Frank Briggs’ release, China Ranch, could fit comfortably within many categorizations, its elements including fusion/progressive rock, electronic music, grooveacious funk or contemporary jazz with plenty of creative substance.
A propulsive drummer in the style of Tony Williams, Briggs has been active in the Los Angeles area for a number of years. With this debut he enlists the help of a stellar cast of musicians; some lesser known in addition to recognizable veterans such as guitarist Frank Gambale and keyboardist/composer Kit Walker. With inspiration from a desert hike in China Ranch, a Mojave Desert oasis, the music mirrors Briggs’ experience witnessing the vibrant colors and renewed environment after a desert rain, teeming with new life and positive energy.
The spark is ignited with “Desert Flower,” a fusion up-tempo piece with Kit Walker providing his strong synthesizer and Fender Rhodes chops, an elastic Jaco Pastorius-like bass solo from Ric Fierabracci, and a torched guitar solo from Brian Price as Briggs commandingly works the kit. His drumming covers a broad range, from thundering backbeats to cymbal finesse on the slow-cooked “Tecopa Moon,” a piece with thick electronics and a hypnotic pulse.
Like a view of the desert terrain, a closer look reveals variety that might otherwise go unnoticed; a picturesque ballad in “Melonie,” neon-lit dance floor persuasions in “Dreams” with its moog-synth bass line, Return To Forever jazz funk-rock on the title piece, and some ‘Weather Reporting’ on “Furnace Creek,” a perfect swirl of electronics and driving beats.
Briggs’ writing admirably balances both melody and progressiveness throughout the recording, including the final track “Saints,” where Mitchel Forman’s piano and keyboards, Gambale’s guitar fireworks and the author’s own tremendous drumming all converge in harmony.
China Ranch is a solid debut that is consistent and filled with memorable tunes and impressive performances that would appeal to a variety of listeners.
Mark F Turner (All About Jazz)
Percussive Arts Society
Frank Briggs : China Ranch
Drummer/composer Frank Briggs’ first solo recording is a brilliant collection of great tunes performed by world-class musicians. The music, all composed by Briggs, is reminiscent of the fusion music of Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Billy Cobham and Miles Davis, but very contemporary in its conception. Along with Briggs on drums and keyboards, the musicians include LA’s finest. The recording is very well produced and the playing is consistently great.
Each tune is highly arranged and on the complex side, but there is plenty of room for improvisation and interaction. Several move between a funk/fusion groove and a jazz/swing feel. Briggs is equally at home in both styles and the band makes the transitions effortlessly.
Among my favorites is the opening track, “Desert Flower,” a high-energy fusion tune that is very much in the Tony Williams Lifetime vein. “Melonie” is a lighter swing tune that is very interactive, especially between the bass and drums during the bass solo. Briggs’ drumming is very present throughout the recording but never intrusive. His musical support for the ensemble sections and the improvised solos is masterful. This may be most evident on the final selection, “Saints,” which is more open and flowing than any of the other tunes. The solos by Mitchel Forman on piano and Frank Gambale on guitar are excellent, and Briggs finally lets loose with his own solo near the end, which is a fitting climax to the whole album.
– Dr. Tom Morgan – PAS -2.09
Amazon Reviews
I first learned of Frank Briggs through his Mel Bay instructional book, and was puzzled how this virtuoso drummer wasn’t included among the pantheon of great American set players. He is every bit as skilled and versed as legends such as Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl. What he has lacked is a high-profile venue to showcase his art.
His new CD, China Ranch, may very well be that launching pad to notoriety. The list of drummers who successfully lead jazz projects is a short one, but it’s rare to find such a skilled composer and arranger such as Frank. This effort is reminscent of a different era of jazz fusion, when players played music and there was more concern for the art than the commercial viability of the project. Fans of ground-breaking acts such as Weather Report and Allan Holdsworth will find a kindred spirit here, and there is no shortage of players among the guest list; Steve Weingart, Ric Fierabracci, Frank Gambale, Jimmy Earl, and Jeff Babko are just a few of the “who’s who” of elite players gathered for China Ranch.
You would expect a drummer to give himself room on his own CD — and there is no doubt a wealth of stretching here to linger over — but the pleasant surprise is the strong quality of composition. The freedom the musicians have never overwhelms the music. Tracks such as China Ranch and Desert Flower stand out as excellent cross-over material with a nod towards the past, where ballads such as Melonie and Riverwalk are welcome retreats to thoughtful melodies. Like his hero Tony Williams, Briggs leans strongly towards the original jazz-rock idea, and avoids old fusion pitfalls such as out-dated synth sounds and crass funk jams. This is an earnest musician playing earnest fusion. Clearly, Briggs had a broader vision here than to merely blow his own horn — or bang his own drum — and is able to communicate it in an age when jazz fusion sorely needs a return to its roots.
-Matthew Self
