Gordon Brisker in Collective Consciousness, USA 1981

Recall he composed for the Magnussons, father and son, in Two Generations of Music (1982).  As a matter of fact notice that Bob Magnusson appears on this release databased here, as well as the familiar name of (keyboardist) Bill Mays.  This is the 6th post relating to Mr. Mays, but I still liked his Kaleidoscope the best.  Surprisingly our old favourite guitarist Don Mock is also here, but only on side a, and no Peter Sprague this time.  Mock's name has been repeated numerous times as a point of reference (though I guess James Vincent takes the cake on that score), I'm hoping everyone recalls his magnificent fusion opus Mock One.

On this LP the sound is fusiony in the late manner but there is a big band sound that is quite pleasant with Brisker's saxes augmented by trumpet and trombone.  Some of it is the inevitable commercialized fuzak but some is more composed in the chamber style we heard before on Two Generations, e.g. the Orientale track that closes it out:

It shouldn't be a surprise that Brisker was an alumnus of Berklee in Boston.

The last track on side one with Don Mock is oddly entitled Funny Fox (odd, in  conjunction with the music) but is appealingly smooth and film noir-ish:

 

 Then on the title track which opens side two, I'm surprised the music is not more intellectual rather than generic 'post-bop' contemporary jazz styling.