WORTH A LISTEN
Rating: 
I can’t recommend Gradually Going Tornado to everybody, but for those people who REALLY like the first two Bruford dates, Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind, it’s definitely worth picking up.
You see, if I were visiting a site like this, I’d want to know about Gradually Going Tornado. The trouble is, it’s a seriously flawed recording.
The problems begin with Allan Holdsworth jumping ship. He was replaced by Holdsworth imitator The Unknown John Clark, who does a good job of replicating Holdsworth’s guitar tone, but isn’t any great shakes as an improvisor.
With Holdsworth’s departure, bassist Jeff Berlin became a much greater presence, which is very much a mixed blessing. He (gasp!) sings on two numbers and also contributed the inane lyrics (”Lost in a world breaking apart/Angel shines her mystery light into the dark/She’s not wasting blame on the rich or the poor/Angel knows that truth is a sliding floor” Yeesh!). This unfortunately development directly resulted in two stars being subtracted from the rating.
But Berlin’s participation isn’t all bad news. He contributes one of the best tracks, Joe Frazier, a funky tune in which the music bobs and weaves much like Berlin’s idol. Berlin is also a tremendous improvisor, contributing many fine solos to the project. Plus he can carry a melody remarkably well on the bass, as he proves on the sumptious ballad Palewell Park.
Even considering Berlin’s absurd ambitions as a pop songwriter, the overall rigor of the band is intact. The compositions and arrangements are still first rate. Even the two vocal numbers are cunningly arranged and composed, as long as you subtract the vocal parts.
I recommend that you enjoy the album and have a good laugh when Berlin starts singing. And if that’s not possible, burn the best tracks and you’ll have a perfectly fine singles CD.