WORTH A LISTEN
Rating:

When I came across Something Else in the used record bins, it was irresistable to me: I had never heard of flautist Jeremy Steig, but I most definitely was familiar with the work of keyboardist Jan Hammer, bassists Gene Perla and Eddie Gomez, and percussionist Don Alias.
Jan Hammer and Gene Perla had […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

I’ve written a lot about Eberhard Weber as a bandleader elsewhere on this site. Pretty much any of his work with reed player Charlie Mariano and keyboardist Rainer Bruninghaus is well worth owning, and Silent Feet is no exception.
All of this work is basically Eurojazz. It doesn’t have a lot of […]

CLASSICS THAT I HATE
Rating:

When it first appeared in 1972, On The Corner caused a major uproar and almost universal condemnation from the jazz press. It was called anti-jazz. One quote will serve to establish the tone of the criticism. “That music is worthless,” said Stan Getz. “It means nothing. There is no form, no […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

It would be difficult to overpraise Stepping Stones (released on the Columbia label). Where do even start? The killer rhythm section of pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, bassist Clint Houston, and drummer Victor Lewis? This music swings like mad. Or do you mention the awesome discovery of the criminally overlooked tenor saxophonist […]

DON’T BOTHER
Rating:

Planet End seems like it would be a great record. It features two of guitarist Larry Coryell’s best groups — The Eleventh House and the same great band that graced the classic date Spaces: John McLaughlin on guitar, Chick Corea on keys, Miroslav Vitous on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums.
Alas, it was […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

Freefall wasn’t actually the first Dixie Dregs release. That was The Great Spectacular, but bandleader Steve Morse was unhappy with the results, which were recorded as a class project at the University of Miami School of Music, and most of the tunes on that album were re-recorded for Freefall. Freefall has […]

Rating:

CLASSICS THAT I HATE
Somebody’s got to say it: Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy is the sort of uninspired drivel that hastened the decline of fusion as an artistically viable form of musical expression.
It fails on every possible level. The arrangements are busy all right, but it’s all sound and fury, signifying nothing. The grooves […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

Normally, I wouldn’t include an album like Milton on this website. It’s a Brazilian pop album. All of the songs have lyrics and are sung by the great Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento.
But I have my reasons for including this release. Milton (released on the Verve label) includes improvisations by Herbie […]

WORTH A LISTEN
Rating:

The Mahavishnu Orchestra had previously recorded the tunes that appear on Between Nothingness & Eternity in the studio, but elected to release a live album of the material instead. Having heard The Lost Trident Sessions, which contains the studio versions, I have to agree with their decision. The […]

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING
Rating:

Hermeto’s debut album as a leader, Yogurt, was intriguing without a doubt, but it really doesn’t prepare you for the brilliance of his follow up, Slaves Mass (on the Collectables label).
The most striking composition is probably the title tune, which starts out with a rather strange form of percussion — Hermeto […]