Something strange must me seeping into the drinking water way out west in San Diego. No one's sure if it's animal, vegetable, mineral, or chemical, is a world-class bassist, totally burning on both acoustic and electric bass. Beyond that, all bets are off. Glen Fisher claims to be a close personal friend of an entity called Gomango, whom he describes as a "very old and wise soul from the tropics." After and initial introduction to Gomango and the Gomango people at a beach party in 1979, Glen maintains that he then began a period of "intense training under the tutelage of the Gomangos...it was about vibe -- a constant state of happiness through music. All music... Gomango does not understand the 'category thing' in music." Ahem, and no matter. Regardless of what you call it, you'll find Glen Fisher's mp3 tracks filed under Latin Jazz, Brazilian, Jazz Vocals, Bebop, even Jump Blues. Together with his band Con Alma ("with soul" in Spanish) he's taking the Gomango Gospel to listeners everywhere. You'll find an incredible, palpable, groove-conciousness to his work that never lets up. Having spent a songwriting sabbatical in Rio De Janeiro, Fisher's musical roots reflect a deep love for Jobim, Luis Miguel, and Tania Maria, not to mention Tito Puente, Joe Zawinul, and Oscar Peterson. And what does he sound like? Glen Fisher and Con Alma are very much a part of the World Music revolution. (Gomango nudges me here to suggest "Earth Music" instead.) The musicianship is consistently tremendous, the energy infectious, the grooves hypnotic. This stuff feels good. And it's worth noting that all these cuts were "live in the studio" first takes -- not an overdub to be found anywhere. It's a gigantic leap backwards, the Gomango gestalt demands it, and it really works. With soul. -Harry White mp3.com