CURT CRESS CLAN

One of the great drummers of the European scene in the 1970s: what Jaki Liebezeit was to the unfailing metronome Curt Cress was to bringing syncopation to the funk. The only "Clan" album to have ever reached daylight, it would take Curt another eight years to try his hand at leadership again.

1. "Cyclone" (3:54) It takes a weird, slow-starting 90-seconds for this one to establish itself but we get it: this is a drummer's album. Nice band cohesion on this PASSPORT-like tune--with a fair amount of complexity and sophistication--and a lot more funk--than I was expecting! Kudos for Volker Kriegel for being able to adapt to and keep up with Curt's drumming (and his ideas). (8.75/10)

2. "From the Back" (4:30) the first of several very mathematically-organized funk songs comes across as a great exercise in individual discipline and whole-band cohesion. (8.875/10)

3. "Fields" (3:46) another tough song for musicians to perform smoothly despite its smooth and melodic guise: this is a tough song for individual musicians to toe the line to (as I hear mistakes from both Dave King and Volker Kriegel happening beneath Ack Van Rooyen's flugelhorn solo). Curt does manage to offer something with some beauty and serenity despite demanding so much of his musicians. (Maybe they all are having a blast playing these "études"?) (9.375/10)

4. "Shuffle On Out" (5:53) built around a blues bass line that Curt jazzifies with some key changes and subtle tempo shifts, giving Volker Kriegel two tracks to provide the lead over the top can be dangerous since he can fly, dance, and take it away, all without you suspecting that you've been hijacked. Interesting keyboard "takeover" in the fourth minute after Kristian's clavinet solo: he re-introduces the bass line before Dave King! Not my favorite song (or style/sound palette) but great work from Curt and the band to just be able to hold it together! (8.75/10)

5. "Delphine" (3:27) mathematical jazz-funk fusion. This is what one might expect from a drummer. And yet there are concerted efforts to present WEATHER REPORT-like melodies. One of the things I notice on this song was the nice combination of drums and percussion given by Curt. (8.875/10)

6. "'451271'" (3:35) another very mathematical arrangement that sounds as if the OHIO PLAYERS were getting into exploring complex time signatures and composed this song as a practice/learning tool. It's actually a pretty cool puzzle Curt has given his players. (8.875/10)

7. "No Answer" (3:46) slowed way down, exploring space in a Soul/R&B kind of way--like something KOOL & THE GANG or BOB JAMES might have done. Once again, when looked at from the perspective of getting good at solving mathematical problems, this one really works! Plus the added discipline needed to perform this flawlessly would be intense! (8.875/10)

8. "Movin' Right Along" (2:45) a funk jam the band must have been grooving to is here salvaged with a long fade in. Interesting construct with its rotating themes being injected by the various instruments while Dave King and Curt keep their heads down and focused. (8.875/10)

9. "Funk Off" (4:59) less funk and more WAR "Low Rider"-like rhythm and simple melody-making than I expected from that title! Interesting end to a very interesting album! (8.75/10)

Total Time 36:35

I have to admit that the music on CCC is far funkier than I would have ever expected from European white boys! There is a goodly amount of funk and syncopation but an odd lack of sophistication, a lack of "full" development on many of the songs. It's almost as if Curt contrived most of these rhythmically-challenging songs as a kind of test to his hired guns--as if confronting them with the task of successfully pulling off "competent" performances without embarrassing themselves. This makes me wonder how much tension the musicians felt during these studio practice and recording sessions; I can imagine a lot!

B+/4.5 stars; a strong display of whole band commitment to some challenging ideas and compositions--a near- masterpiece of funky Jazz-Rock Fusion. For the most part, I think they come through fairly shining. What might suffer a bit is the feeling of a lack of complete or "full" development on many of the song/études.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#3167476)
• Buy CURT CRESS music online with PA partners
• Show all CURT CRESS MP3/Stream
• Go to CURT CRESS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Curt Cress Clan page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for CURT CRESS related discussions