Niacin features Erie Alumni John Novello on Hammond B3 organ & keyboards, Billy Sheehan on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums. All are seriously accomplished musicians and play everything from rock, funk, jazz, fusion, progressive and beyond. Niacin is an instrumental group, so the focus is obviously on interesting composition and inspired improvisation.

Time Crunch features predominantly energetic, complex musical excursions. However, Niacin's music is played with taste and feeling... it is not simply a technical showcase for musical chops.

The CD starts out with "Elbow Grease", a high speed piece that opens with funky clavinet. In a moment John Novello is pumping out progressive rock organ lines reminiscent of Keith Emerson's Tarkus period. Under this Billy Sheehan and Dennis Chambers propel the tune along with their rhythm section that has the unstoppable force of a freight train.

Next up is the title track, which begins with a progressive intro that soon morphs into a more straight ahead rock feel. Novello adds distorted lead work and alternating B3 jabs as Sheehan and Chambers switch between rock and funk rhythms.

"Stone Face" continues the high energy vibe, with a spider fingered Sheehan bass line twisting and turning throughout the piece. B3 and drums provide the accents this time, until the ethereal middle section where Novello first presents the synthesizer in a lush film music style. Then the band is back into overdrive with an extended synth solo that ends abruptly with a dead stop.

In addition to their own compositions Niacin takes on a few choice covers. Apparently this approach comes from Billy Sheehan, as John Novello notes "Billy has challenged me with the last three covers that he chose: Red, Blue Wind and Meanstreets as they are all very guitar oriented and I had to figure out how to do them and pull it off."

I didn't know what to expect with Niacin's treatment of the King Crimson piece, "Red". As Novello pointed out, this is a guitar dominated song and being a long time King Crimson enthusiast I simply couldn't image what Red would sound like with B3 and no guitars whatsoever. I was surprised and astounded by Novello's excellent reworking of Robert Fripp's guitar parts. Niacin nails the essence of Red and then goes on to add an extended ending to the song. At first the ending appears to be a typical drawn-out rock ending, but then it continues into a perpetual motion of sound... static yet ever changing. Quite interesting, to say the least.

There are only a few quieter moments on Time Crunch such as "Invisible King" which has a more subdued vibe with organ lines that reminded me a bit of Procol Harum. Also, the beautiful piano-based piece "Glow" offers a subtle contrast to the bombastics that are the mainstay of this release. Glow is a tribute to John Novello's late wife Gloria Rusch, who's nickname was Glo.

Overall Time Crunch is an excellent release, simply packed with tasty, funky, emotional and technically awe inspiring music. Niacin will be playing at the Docksider this Wednesday, November 20th beginning at 9pm. Tickets are $15.00 in advance and $18.00 at the show.

It's not very often that a band of this caliber comes to Erie, and even a rarer occasion when such a group includes one of Erie's own.

Pick up the CD and don't miss the show because in a word, Niacin burns.

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