The Early Years - Jan Hammer

Jul

6

The Early Years - Jan Hammer

≡ Category: 1970s, Recommended, Reviews, World Fusion |
≅ Written by: Michael Kydonieus

JAZZBO NOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING

Rating:

The bulk of this material is taken from two classic Hammer albums, Like Children (which he made with Jerry Goodman) and First Seven Days (which features the contributions of Mahavishnu Orchestra alumni Steve Kindler). Both are essential albums.

So, obviously the music on this compilation is superb, but I have only given it three stars because Like Children and First Seven Days are both finally available on CD, and probably for only a short while, so I don’t want you to miss out. I urge you to get both before they go out of print again. (Click on the links for full reviews for these releases.)

First Seven Days may be the more consistent album, but Like Children has many brilliant and unusual songs, even if the vocals are somewhat unfortunate (jazz and fusion artists have never done very well in this area).

To describe any of this material as new age is to insult it, as it has more complex ideas and thorny improvisations that 99% of what passes for serious jazz these days.

To have these two albums crushed into this paltry cd collection is unforgiveable, but since the CD is available used as of this writing for less than two bucks on Amazon.com, it might be worth buying just to check it out, I suppose.