LE VENT DE L'ESPRIT SOUFFLE OU IL VEUT

4.5 stars. NADAVATI was the project of guitarist Jacques Liot, who composed all the music and co-produced it. Essentially they were a five piece with a lot of guests helping out. I believe there were around 14 artists in total involved in the making of this record, including two vocalists. This band was from France and they recorded this album over a two week period in the spring of 1977, at the studio ZAO was using at the time.

We get some players here as Alain Leconte is on bass, and he co-produced it. Alain would be part of that Serge Bringolf album called "Vision" in 1981, and he was also in the ALAIN ECKERT QUARTET. We get drummer Didier Hauck from TRIODE, and the guy is incredible. Patrice Freequentin is here playing sax and flute and he's from NYL. And the keyboardist adds clavinet, electric piano and synths. The two male vocalists include Lionel Ledissez from ERGO SUM, and they sing on the closer only, and in the Zeuhl style. I didn't recognize his voice, as it's wordless stuff. Really good too.

Other guests include three more horn players including Richard Raux from MAGMA. Raux would go onto play in EDITION SPECIALE and with Yockh'o Seffer. Four guys are playing strings here. It was interesting reading about MAGMA's Klaus Blasquiz who was excited about this band and shared this with Christian Vander who agreed. Vander would have three of the guys over at his house including Leconte and Liot, as he wanted to collaborate with them, but the guys would have a change of heart, not liking the musical direction that Vander was leading them towards.

While many compare this band to MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, this isn't nearly as explosive, and really it sounds different to my ears with all the horns and strings. Liot is no John McLaughlin, but he's a talented player. We get six tracks over 40 minutes or so. This is punchy and intricate. Complex and funky at times. I'm not all-in on the horns, especially the opener which is my least favourite track. But this is an absolute favourite when it comes to 1978, which was a killer year for my music. While I am really into this whole album(most of the opener) it's that ten minute closer that I always look forward to. Of course it's that Zeuhl vibe, not just in the dual male vocals chanting but in the rhythm section as well. No wonder Blasquiz and Vander were impressed.

This is part of my "best of" jazz and related list. And a must for jazz fans.

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