Not quite at the same level as British Jeff Beck of Beckola fame, but still good, I thought the album Watch the Time from 1977 was the most impressive one from the point of view of scalding hot fusionary visionary outpourings. The composition called Polaris is top of my playlist for now, for at least a week, maybe a month:
Brief bio on discogs:
American jazz guitarist, born July 29, 1945 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died July 22, 2008 - Woodbury, Connecticut.
I know the album from 1970 Sabicas with Joe Beck is popular, but I don't appreciate at all the Latin influences myself. After that, the Song from Wounded Knee is more experimental than enjoyable, and the ST album with the lovely cover picture is more ordinary than I would have expected given it came out at the height of the complex progressive fusion craze. Then we get to Watch the Time, which is actually a mix of more commercial stuff and great fusion. And the Tributaries album where he plays with Scofield and Larry Coryell I didn't like much when I reviewed for the Coryell oeuvre (brilliant as it is).
ReplyDeleteI threw in the 3 albums, song for wounded, ST Beck, and Watch the Time:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/5khfz6
https://krakenfiles.com/view/6AaD8ZK7uf/file.html
Julian,
ReplyDeleteThis is great.
Thanks.
-Nick
1977's Watch The Time: tasty and refreshing like a Spring breeze.......a perfect escape for these gray cold days....quirky, happy and funky - we like this!
ReplyDeleteSome real standouts....Happy Shoes, Polaris (strongest track like Julian said yep), Now's The Time, Dr Lee..... great bassist on this LP too, ties it together seamlessly with thick unique sound.
This Lp brought to mind our old hero Karlos P. Steinblast :)
...now I've got to dig those gems out!
Now sampling Song For Wounded Knee, I see he has Jack DeJohnette on board, very interesting.....I like it, spacey and sparce, like old campfire stories out on the prairie....
....some old home on the range vibes...with maybe a ufo or two ;)
Bigtime gratitude for all you do for us Julian!
Thank you bro :)
Thanos for the Song from Wounded Knee and Odeon Pope albums. Both albums are superb, though not in the usual prog or fusion style you prefer
ReplyDelete