THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS

I like to think of this album as a fusion album, but LOW SPARK is not fusion in terms of what we typically define to be fusion. LOW SPARK is more folksy and bluesy than jazzy, but we get jazz influence here, as well as folk, blues, rock and even a bit of prog here or there.

The title track is the focus track here. It has this overt jazzy quality that reminds me of Miles Davis in terms of how the piece evolves over time. Sure, the piece takes time to get started and the solos can get long in the mouth, but the piece has this mesmerizing appeal that simply cannot be explained. Also, Winwood puts on a heck of a vocal performance here even if Chris Wood steals the show.

The opening track is a very ''folk fusion'' kind of thing and the closer gives hints of prog rock complete with Rick Grech's soaring violin performance. For those looking for some rock, Jim Capaldi's ''Light Up or Leave Me Alone'' and the smooth ''Rock and Roll Stew'' should satisfy. The only really weak track here is the noneventful ''Many a Mile to Freedom''.

Traffic are such a unique band to the archives that it would be pitiful if they were snubbed from a prog collection. Sound-wise, it might not fit, but LOW SPARK has that progressive essence that goes side-by-side with those Genesis records.