OF QUEUES AND CURES

OF QUEUES AND CURES, a 1978 release from English "Canterbury" outfit National Health, is a satisfying, but not outstanding slice of jazz fusion, generously seasoned with the sense of adventure, improvisation and flashes of humour (mainly seen in the occasional vocals) that typify this prog sub-genre.

I can hear strong parallels to the early fusion work of Bill Bruford here, along with some similarities to jazz fusion heavies like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever and Brand X. If you appreciate any or all of those artists, you should like this. While I don't find OF QUEUES AND CURES to be as compelling as the best works of those fusion luminaries, it is still worthy of repeated listens -- in a more generous mood, I might easily have gone as high as four stars.

The musicianship is superb throughout, with the guitar work of Phil Miller, Pip Pyle's drumming, and Dave Stewart's piano being notably accomplished. The inclusion of many guest musicians, on diverse instruments from steel drums, to cello, flute, clarinet, oboe and brass, also helps to flesh out the overall sound, and keep things interesting. The songwriting, while just a trifle uneven in quality, is yet quite good, with the first three tracks being my particular favourites.

If you have a taste for 70s jazz fusion, especially that of the less-disciplined Canterbury vein, I advise you to check this one out. OF QUEUES AND CURES is a fine album, and one that I'm grateful to the Prog Archives for introducing me to.