I originally purchased this disc as I have all the Vital Information c.d.s.I have always been a fan of Steve Smith's
drumming and Frank Gambale's guitar playing.Frank G. has some
nice solo efforts as well,but I enjoy this disc quite a bit as
the input of Stuart Hamm is so tight and it adds nice dimension
to two great players.I found this cd to be full of energy and
complex arrangements which carry the listener to far away places
and every time I listen there is something else to discover.I
would highly recommend this cd along with these sugguestions if
you enjoy this type of jazz/fusion:any of the Vital Information
body of work or c.d.s being produced out of the Tone Center in
Marin Ca..There is a c.d. from there called the Strangers Hand
with Steve Smith,Jerry Goodman,Howard Levy and Oteil Burbridge
which has some fun with some cajun/zydeco style tunes.I am also
a fan of Simon Phillips the drummer and he has a great c.d. very
similar in nature to The Light Beyond called Another Lifetime.
I would highly recommend it for those who like this type of music.

Generally, I find Gambale's playing/compositions to be cheesey and uninteresting. While technically proficient, they often lack substance. On the other hand, this album (along with his work w/ Chick Corea and his 1989 live album) stands out as a work of inspiration and passion. The entire mood of the album is thoughtful and intelligent, while remaining soulful and energetic. Steve Smith and Stu Hamm forge an unstoppable rythm machine and the interplay between the three is seemless. A great buy for jazz-rock fans.

Tone Center presents another Jazz/Rock/Fusion all star band. Stu Hamm is the bassist that many have seen with Satriani. If you are wondering what he would sound like in a Fusion context here is your answer. Stu joins two parts of Vital Information and the results are very good. This is the sequel to "Show Me What You Can Do". It is different in nature than the first but I find it to be an improvement. The first disc was largely improvised and much more rock orientated. This disc is an improvement composition wise and the playing is still excellent. Each member is given a brief solo piece in addition to the full ensemble tunes. "The Spirit of Dundun" is the best of the three solo pieces and has Steve Smith showing why he is a poll winning drummer. As far as the ensemble tunes are concerned they are far mellower than on the previous release. The tunes show that the trio spent more time composing than on the first disc. "The Throne of Savitar" is a RTFesque mini-suite that is one of Frank Gambale's finest compositions. All three members display their talents on this one. "First Look" is a Stu composition. This is also a great advance compositionally for the band. All three members are featured at one time or another but this is a showcase for the amazing bass of Stu. The rest of the disc is also very good. The overall tone/volume/feel/mood is on par with the Vital Information discs. Mellower but still amazing playing throughout. If you like fusion then buy this one. Another victory for Tone Center.