Record Reviews

LARRY CORYELL ~ I`LL BE OVER YOU CTI 67238 (Barcode: 024646723826) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 1994 Released: 1995 This is an album by American Jazz / Fusion guitarist / composer Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, the third of the three albums he recorded for the CTIFind albums on this label label owned by producer Creed TaylorFind albums by this artist. The album features a large team of musicians, including vocalist Peabo BrysonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Chuck LoebFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist, bassist Will LeeFind albums by this artist, drummer Steve FerroneFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents eleven tracks, most of which are arrangements of Soul songs with some original contributions by Coryell. This album was undoubtedly Coryell’s most commercial album ever, almost completely outside of his usual Jazz / Fusion environment. The title song even enjoyed some chart success. Obviously Coryell was convinced to try his commercial luck by the producer, and thank God the album was not a success, with Coryell retuning to playing Jazz. Having said that the album offers some great acoustic guitar licks, which show his true skills. The production and performances by all the musicians involved are as perfect as slick, commercial music allows. Overall, this is a short stunt with commercial music by one of the greatest guitar players of all times, which can be easily forgiven, and perhaps forgotten as well. It is listenable at all? Well, if you’re in a mood for a smoothie, it certainly is.

Updated: 21/08/2023Posted: 21/08/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ DANCING FLOWERS FUSION 001 (Barcode: 5907564258012) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2001 Released: 2005 This album by Polish keyboardist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist presents yet another aspect of his seemingly universal musical personality. It is basically a Funk album, which consists of seven instrumentals and three songs, all composed by Herdzin. The arrangements, especially those involving the horn section, have some proximity to Jazz, but overall it is a Pop album with some Jazz-Rock Fusion elements. The music is performed by an excellent team, which includes guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassists Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist (in a rare appearance on bass guitar), Filip SojkaFind albums by this artist and Miroslaw WisniewskiFind albums by this artist and drummers Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist and Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist and horn players like saxophonists Michal KulentyFind albums by this artist, Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist and Mariusz MelczarekFind albums by this artist and several others. The vocals are handled by three young Pop vocalists, two female and one male, all of them quite unimpressive The music is based on the American Funk model, which was developed in the 1970s / 1980s by a plentitude of mostly African American musicians, especially the archetypical Earth, Wind & FireFind albums by this artist, but also by many partly Jazz oriented artists like George DukeFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist, Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist and even Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist during some periods of their extensive careers. Herdzin presents his version of Funk, which is based more on the melodic content than the rhythmic progression and is therefore somewhat softened, or simply more European. Herdzin often states that anything he does is by no means inferior to whatever the Americans are doing, and to tell the truth he is often correct when saying so, but on the other hand as it was once so adequately put: "White Man Can´t Jump" and Funk is after all about "jumping" more than anything else. When asked if he ever played Funk, Herdzin can most certainly answer positively, following this recording. Overall this is a well done, pleasant album (except for the vocal tracks), which is ideal for driving on sunny days (pretty rare in Poland) with the volume up and a pretty blonde beside you. Enjoy!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. ~ THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA ALBUMS COLLECTION SONY 886979244825 (Barcode: 886979244825) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 - 1999 Released: 2011 This Box Set includes all the albums released by US saxophonist / composer Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist on the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label, which spanned the last decade and a half of his life, untimely cut short by his tragic and unexpected death. Washington, primarily known as the Godfather of Smooth Jazz was in fact a gifted Jazz musician with a career spanning almost forty years, which slowly shifted from mainstream Jazz towards Jazz-Funk and Soul-Jazz. He enjoyed immense popularity amongst non-Jazz music lovers, but his true Jazz spirit was always a part of his milieu, especially when examined in retrospect. The Columbia recordings present a wide range of stylistically diverse settings, moving between Funk, Soul-Jazz and mainstream Jazz, which is rarely associated with his legacy. Some superb players took part in these recordings, such as trumpeter Eddie HendersonFind albums by this artist, pianists Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist and Hank JonesFind albums by this artist, bassists Ron CarterFind albums by this artist and George MrazFind albums by this artist, drummer Billy HartFind albums by this artist and many, many more. Washington plays alto, tenor and soprano saxophones with mastery skill and fluency and his improvisational abilities are beyond reproach. Of course many hardcore Jazz listeners will find this music way to "easy going" for their ears, but many will also be surprised by the Artistry Washington presents often on these albums. Listeners, who like the easier side of Jazz, should find this stuff absolutely delightful. Whatever one´s opinion of Washington´s music may be, one must admit that he certainly was one of the most influential musicians in the 1980s and 1990s. This Box Set, with the original albums mini-sleeved and an informational liner notes included is definitely worth investigating.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend