BIG CITY

The former-Return To Forever drummer's second solo album since leaving Chick's band, the follow-up to 1976's Venusian Summer, one of my all-time favorite Jazz-Rock Fusion albums.

A1. "Big City" (5:22) a case in example that an impressive line up of musicians doesn't necessarily guarantee a great tune. Trying too hard and not really capturing the funk they're going for. (8.75/10)

A2. "Sweet Dreamer" (4:42) a sweet tune (the best thing on the album) with Bay Area legend Linda Tillery singing from her heart. Great bass play from Paul Jackson with awesome solos from Ray Gomez and Herbie Hancock. (9.25/10)

A3. "Interludes" - both are nice: a. "Egypt" (1:00) a funky interlude?! Pretty good! (4.5/5) b. "Nocturne" (1:24) swelling orchestral strings and harp. Nice. (I hear "Happy Birthday" melody in there--as well as a theme from Midnight Cowboy.) (4.375/5)

A4. "Rapid Transit" (3:59) the closest thing on the album to exhibiting Lenny's potential as both composer, band leader, and drummer but still lacking anything as extraordinary as the music and textures of Venusian Summer. (8.87510)

A5. "Ritmo Loco" (1:08) electronic computer and acoustic percussion. The acoustic play is outstanding. (4.5/5)

B1. "Dreams Come And Go Away" (3:34) a smooth rock-jazz tune that sounds like something Eric Clapton was doing around the same time. Maybe this one shouldn't have been an instrumental. Too much of a jam. (8.75/10)

B2. "Enchanted Pool Suite" (17.75/20): a. "Prelude" (1:31) beautiful near-classical (I hear Ralph Vaughn Williams) duet between Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer (4.5/5) b. "Part I" (2:18) add Miroslav Vitous and harpist Lois Colin to the mix and then, later, Michael Gibbs' orchestra and Patrick Gleeson's synth. (4.375/5) c. "Part II" (5:39) a Herbie Hancock-infused smooth jazz piece à la Earl Klugh. It works. Due to Michael Gibbs' orchestration, Gary King's bass with Lenny's drumming, and Jan and Jerry's continued contributions. (9/10)

B3. "And We Meet Again" (live) (6:41) a blues vamp captured live (cuz that's all these guys can come up with once they're all surreptitiously thrown together on stage without practice or forethought). (8.75/10)

Total time: 38:28

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of diverse and loosely tied together Jazz-Rock Fusion that qualifies for the Fourth Wave or "Smooth Jazz" phase of the movement. A little too inconsistent, scattered, and perplexingly diversified to be highly recommended. Who is Lenny White and what kind of music does he want to make?