LA Jazz Scene August 1996 New Adult Contemporary by Brian Soergel Want to jazz up your CD collection? Try Ionospheres, by Ian Dogole and Global Fusion (CEI/Cymekob). World music and both straight-ahead and fusion jazz are combined with a tempting brew of styles. Dogole is a percussionist and educator who frequently leads classes and workshops in Northern California. A 10-minute Miles Davis tribute includes more than two minutes of "Bitches Brew," which, of course, is the album that unofficially began the whole jazz fusion movement, which eventually led to New Age, new adult contemporary and smooth jazz. There's much to like and appreciate here, from the invigorating jazz of "Afro Blue" to the mesmerizing "Mbira Maki," with instruments and scales from the Arabian peninsula. Eric Golub plays the kokyu, a three-string Japanese fiddle, on that track. And I never thought I'd mention free jazz innovator Ornette Coleman in this column, but his "Turnaround" acts as a jumping off point for Dogole's talking drum and some amazing clarinet work. This CD may be a bit eclectic for new adult contemporary listeners, but I wanted to include it here since it expands on many of the styles found in the field. Back to Press