by Paula EdelsteinJimmy Haslip, the distinctive seven-string bass phenomenon and protégé of the legendary Jaco Pastorious, debuts Red Heat on Unitone Recordings in a glorious fusion of rumba, merengue, and many exciting forms alongside the percussive magic of Luis Conte. Ten great songs provide the excitement of Haslip's brilliant writing and playing on songs ranging from the ultra smooth "The Red Sun" to the beautiful percussion ensemble piece "Vaya." This song reaches to the heart of the Caribbean and provides an exciting set complete with Afro-Latin soul that leaves the listener captivated by the rhythms of Luis Conte's timbale abanico. The virtuoso and innovative Haslip plays an impressive lineage of bass instruments including the acoustic bass, electric bass, the electric fretless bass, synth bass, and provides background vocals on "The Heat" and additional keyboards on "The Red Sun." This splendid, multi-cultural experience is the essence of Jimmy Haslip and is his most creative, inspired, and important work to date.