ALIVE & WELL - RECORDED IN PARIS

While this hardly qualifies as classic SOFT MACHINE, it is nonetheless an enjoyable jazz- fusion live album. As with the two previous releases, the excellent "Bundles" (1975) and the very good "Softs" (1976), the band is firmly under the direction of former reedman, now keyboardist Karl Jenkins. Gone is the Canterbury/Psyche silliness of the Wyatt period, or the free jazz experimentation of the Hopper/Ratledge period, replaced with rather usual, though good, jazz fusion. Karl Jenkins provides much of the material, which revolves around repetitive riffs, (which John Etheridge on guitar handles very capably) and few very beautiful melodies.

Highlights include "Number Three", with some excellent solo acoustic guitar from Etheridge, who proved a worthy successor to the inimitable Alan Holdsworth. "Soft Space", which closes the record, is what the title says it is, spacy, verging on techno (in 1978!). This new direction for the SOFTS is also a highlight, and hints at Karl Jenkins later works. "The Nodder" is also very good, with Jenkins laying some synth flourishes around slow, but shifting riffing from Etheridge. The rest of the material is all solid, though not instantly memorable. The addition of Rick Sanders on violin certainly diversified some tracks, but the loss of Jenkins' reeds is a huge to the SM sound.

Overall, a very enjoyable, pleasant record, a cut above most jazz fusion though not quite up to the standards of works by BRUFORD or BRAND X. It's closer to a toned down MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Essential for fans of the SOFT MACHINE, recommended for jazz fusion fans, casual prog fans or SOFT MACHINE beginners, stay clear.

3/5 = a good effort, though not essential. (R. Katzwer, 12/30/05)

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