Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity brings Mr. Big’s virtuosity and singable melody together with striking ease. Paul Gilbert’s guitar, Billy Sheehan’s bass, Eric Martin’s warm vocal presence and Pat Torpey’s steady pulse each have room to speak, but the songs always return to a shared groove. Even when the playing is flashy, the center remains the vocal line and chorus. Harder material, bluesy shades and lighter pop-rock moments create a varied sequence. Guitar-and-bass exchanges are not detached demonstrations; they lift the singing and open the next section. The record does not simply recreate an earlier era. It captures the lived-in communication of four players who understand when to add color and when to leave space. Defying Gravity is a graceful, melodic statement of what makes Mr. Big distinctive.