Category Archives: Jazz Fusion
L.A. EXPRESS-L.A. EXPRESS AND SHADOW PLAY.
L.A. Express-L.A. Express and Shadow Play, Jazz saxophonist Tom Scott’s career began in 1965, when he was just seventeen, and the leader of the jazz ensemble Neoteric Trio. After that he became one of Los Angeles’ top session players, and a familiar face on the West Coast music scene. This would stand in him in …
DUENDE LIBRE-DUENDE LIBRE.
Duende Libre-Duende Libre. Having graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Jazz Studies in 2003, keyboardist Alex Chadsey, like many new graduates, found himself wondering what the future held for him? He was a talented and versatile musician who was fluent in jazz and classical music, and was one of the beneficiaries …
EIVIND OPSVIK-OVERSEAS V.
Eivind Opsvik-Overseas V. By 1998, bassist and composer Eivind Opsvik was a familiar face on Oslo’s vibrant jazz scene. He had been playing in the city’s clubs since the early nineties. Just like many young musicians, this was akin to a musical apprenticeship. Then in 1993, twenty year old Eivind Opsvik decided to complete his …
KROKOFANT-KROKOFANT III.
Krokofant-Krokofant III. Krokofant has come a long way since they released their eponymous debut album on Rune Grammofon, in February 2014. Back then, Krokofant were regarded as one of the rising stars of the Norwegian music scene. Already great things were forecast for Krokofant. They were being described by critics as one of the most …
LOVIN’ MIGHTY FIRE: NIPPON FUNK, SOUL, DISCO 1973-1983.
Lovin’ Mighty Fire: Nippon Funk, Soul, Disco 1973-1983. Sometimes, record collectors can be somewhat myopic and overlook great swathes of music. That has long been the case. It was certainly the case back in the late-sixties and early seventies. This was a golden age for music. Especially for anyone interested in classic rock, progressive rock …
SEA LEVEL-BALL ROOM.
Sea Level-Ball Room. In 1980, Southern rockers Sea Level released their fifth album Ball Room, which was recently reissued by BGO Records. The release of Ball Room was a new start for Sea Level. They had been signed to Capricorn Records since the release of their eponymous debut album in 1976. After recording four albums …
HEAT EXCHANGE-REMINISCENCE.
Heat Exchange-Reminiscence. Heat Exchange’s root’s can be traced to a Toronto high school, in the late-sixties. That was when four school friends decided to form a blues band, which they named Cloud. Just a couple of years later, and Cloud were one of the top bands in Toronto. Several record labels were chasing Cloud’s signature. …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2016-PART 5.
The Best Compilations Of 2016-Part 5. The Golden Age Of American Country Music: More Country Hits. For many people, the golden age of country music was the late fifties and early sixties. During that period, country music provided the soundtrack to much of American life. Providing the soundtrack were giants of country music like Johnny …
IKARUS-KRAUTROCK’S NEARLY MEN.
IKARUS-KRAUTROCK’S NEARLY MEN. In Greek mythology, Icarus, the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, who created the Labyrinth, met a tragic ending. Icarus and Daedalus were desperate to escape from Crete. So Daedalus constructed wings made of feathers and wax. As Icarus prepared to make his escape, Daedalus warned his son of complacency and hubris. …
MIROSLAV VITOUS-THE BASS.
MIROSLAV VITOUS-THE BASS. In 1967, twenty year old Miroslav Vitous was playing alongside Clark Terry in a Chicago club. It was just the latest gig for the up-and-coming Czech bassist. He had made America his home in 1966, when he won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, in Boston. Now he was …
THE KRAUTROCK AND PROGRESSIVE BOX SET.
THE KRAUTROCK AND PROGRESSIVE BOX SET. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, the late-sixties was the start of a golden age for music. It continued right through the seventies. During this period, some of the most important music ever recorded was released. This included countless classic albums. These classic albums ranged from classic rock, psychedelia, …
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S.
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S. Over the last twenty years, the compilation market has been totally transformed. Nowadays, the compilation market is bigger, with many more labels regularly releasing compilations. A turning point was the mid to late nineties, when many small, independent labels began to release …
IAN GILLAN-THE GILLAN BAND AND GILLAN YEARS.
IAN GILLAN-THE GILLAN BAND AND GILLAN YEARS. From the late sixties, right through to the seventies, fusion was one of the most popular musical genres. Fusion was popular on both sides of the Atlantic. However, by the late seventies record buyers were tiring of the fusion of jazz and rock. So were some musicians. This included …
WEATHER REPORT-THE COLUMBIA YEARS 1971-1975.
WEATHER REPORT-THE COLUMBIA YEARS 1971-1975. By the late-sixties, jazz was no longer as popular as it had once been. Jazz’s popularity had plummeted over the last few years. Many jazz clubs were closing, or being converted into venues that put on rock bands. Sales of jazz were down. Critics and cultural commentators were drawing comparisons with blues music. Although there had …
STEVE KHAN-EYEWITNESS, MODERN TIMES AND CASA LOCO.
STEVE KHAN-EYEWITNESS, MODERN TIMES AND CASA LOCO. During the seventies, Steve Khan was one of the top session musicians in New York. He seemed to work non-stop, and was the go to guy for anyone looking for a guitarist. Steve Khan had worked with some of the biggest names in music; including Steely Dan, Blood …
KEV BEADLE PRESENTS THE BEST OF INNER CITY RECORDS.
KEV BEADLE PRESENTS THE BEST OF INNER CITY RECORDS. When Irv Kratka and Eric Kriss decided to found a new jazz label, Inner City Records in 1976, they seemed the perfect partnership. Irv Kratka was music industry veteran, who was the CEO of MMO Music Group. What he didn’t know about the music industry, wasn’t …
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