Record Reviews

MAGICIAN ~ MAGICIAN VOCALION 8447 (Barcode: 765387844721) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2009 1st and only album by the British Jazz-Rock ensemble MagicianFind albums by this artist, a short lived group of top British Jazz musicians assembled to record this album written and arranged by Stan ButcherFind albums by this artist, himself a veteran composer / arranger on the British scene for several decades before this recording was made. Led by the fabulous saxophonist / flautist Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist, the group also included keyboardist Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, bassist Mo FosterFind albums by this artist and drummer Barry MorganFind albums by this artist as well as a brass section. The music is mostly laid back, beautifully crafted and arranged and typically British, which of course is to be expected. Thompson plays several superb saxophone and flute solos, and so do the other musicians, and the entire album although quite obscure, is definitely worth discovering. Lovers of European and particularly British Jazz will be delighted to see this gem available again!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VAN MORRISON ~ BACK ON TOP EXILE 724384714826 (Barcode: 724384714826) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 This is the 27th studio album by legendary Northern Irish singer / songwriter Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by a splendid group of musicians, which includes keyboardist Geraint WatkinsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Mick GreenFind albums by this artist, bassist Ian JenningsFind albums by this artist, drummer Bobby IrwinFind albums by this artist, American saxophonist Pee Wee EllisFind albums by this artist, Irish pianist and arranger Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, who is in charge of the string arrangements, and others. The album presents ten tracks, all original by Morrison. Musically the album offers a certain return to Blues and Rhythm And Blues, but, as usual, it is a mixture of cross-genre songs, all blessed by Morrison’s outstanding ability to weave beautiful melodies and write heartfelt lyrics, like only a few others. There is also a slight jazz touch in the background, which characterizes everything Morrison recorded. Overall, this is a piece of music that is worth being remembered, and although Morrison’s recorded legacy offers a few dozen releases, he never recorded a bad album and everything he ever put out is worth an honorable place in a decent record collection. It is one of those Artists you can never have too much of…

Updated: 24/08/2024Posted: 24/08/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

VAN MORRISON ~ KEEP ME SINGING EXILE 602557035742 (Barcode: 602557035742) ~ IRELAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 It is absolutely wonderful to feel that some sanity is left in this world and this new (as of the time of writing) album by the iconic Northern Irish bard Van MorrisonFind albums by this artist proves that the good old values are still very much intact. The album, his 36th studio release, presents twelve new songs and one instrumental piece, eleven of which were written by Morrison, one which was co-written by him and one which is his interpretation of a beautiful classic song by Alfred BraggsFind albums by this artist. Morrison is accompanied by a set of superb musicians, including Irish pianist Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the string arrangements which appear on some songs, multi-instrumentalist Paul MoranFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dave KearyFind albums by this artist, bassist Paul MooreFind albums by this artist and others. The music is everything one might expect from Morrison: a set of sublime songs, delivered with great sensitivity and taste, with Morrison still being in top form and singing as if the clock did not tick for him at all. There is the same deep melancholy, echoes of Blues and Celtic roots, gentle Jazzy accompaniment, in short the same golden formula that Morrison uses for years and which still delivers the goods. In many ways this album is a nostalgic trip to the early era of his career, as stylistically it is very much a closing of a circle. Morrison has always been completely free of the mannerisms that destroyed so many musicians over time. He never tried to prove anything and was always himself, not trying to be anybody else. With fads and fashions swapping the entertainment world, Morrison was always an observer rather than a player, distancing himself by choice for the phony imagery surrounding the scene. It is somewhat sad to think that saying someone did not change almost at all in the last fifty years it the biggest compliment one can pay that person. Listing to this album brings fond memories of "Astral WeeksFind albums with this title", "MoondanceFind albums with this title" and "His Band And The Street ChoirFind albums with this title", with these iconic albums sharing many of the same elements with this album. Fame and success, all well deserved, did not, thank God, take a heavy toll on Morrison, and we, the fans, have all the reasons to feel ecstatically happy about it. If you are a member of the Generation Z, it is probably way too late for you to save your sanity, but this album might just about do it…We the Baby Boomers were simply born into it, which makes thing really easy. Life ain´t fair…

Updated: 11/11/2023Posted: 15/10/2016

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

SOLID GOLD CADILLAC ~ SOLID GOLD CADILLAC / BRAIN DAMAGE BGO 0471 (Barcode: 5017261204714) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 1999 This is a reissue of the only two albums released in the early 1970s by the short lived British Jazz-Rock ensemble Solid Gold CadillacFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist. The list of participating musicians reads like the Who´s Who of British Jazz / Jazz-Rock at the time: lead vocalist / trumpeter Phil MintonFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist George KhanFind albums by this artist, trombonist Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dick MorecombeFind albums by this artist, Westbrook on electric piano and additional vocals, pianist Fiachra TrenchFind albums by this artist, bassist Roy BabbingtonFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Chris SpeddingFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks on the eponymous debut album. Brian GoddingFind albums by this artist plays guitar and Butch PotterFind albums by this artist plays bass on the second album and Trench does not take part in it. The debut album offers eleven tracks and the second album offers ten tracks, almost all of which were composed by Westbrook. The music is a zany, eclectic collection of absolutely stupendous music, light years ahead of its time at the time of the recording. It moves between Pop, Rock, Jazz-Rock, Jazz and typical Westbrook cabaret / vaudeville creations, all superbly performed by this elite team of musicians. My recent review of Kate WestbrookFind albums by this artist´s album "GraniteFind albums with this title" struck a "memory" chord and made me to come back to these two albums, which admittedly I have not listened to in decades. It is absolutely amazing how good this music sounds today, losing nothing of its freshness and ingenuity. The sense of humor and irony are already there, playing a major role in the overall scheme of things, going hand in hand with wonderful musicality and astounding versatility. Although Solid Gold Cadillac was only a small "sidestep" in Westbrook´s decades long career, in retrospect it proves again that he definitely is a man of the "golden touch", as far as music is concerned, and everything he created over time is able to defend its values over time. Although this reissue is long time out of print, it is definitely worth seeking out, not only for the Westbrook devotees, but for all British Jazz / Jazz-Rock collectors, who missed this jewel so far. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 16/08/2018Posted: 16/08/2018

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend