PASSPORT - DOLDINGER

Deciding on Passport's best album, for me, was not easily done. Their first seven, 1970s studio albums are all five star efforts, but the kudos go to "Passport-Doldinger", the first one, in the final analysis.

Everything about this record is "so right". Individual numbers have varying moods within, and Passport's sound here is definitely "traveling music". The resulting musical journey is a multi-faceted one, and there are no weak tracks, or weak, out of place places in existing numbers.

Doldinger and company know how to get into a groove, but do interesting and refreshing things with that groove, once you are in it. This is an instrumental album, and all instruments playing (sax, keys, drums, guitar, bass, flute) are doing interesting and groundbreaking things that makes "Passport-Doldinger" an important and pivotal musical offering, and exciting and a thrill to listen to.

A run of the mill approach to instrumentation can most easily and quickly spell disaster to a fusion group, especially in early, competitive world of jazz rock here in 1971, but on this album, things are never just ordinary. The music is focused and professional, and that is quite impressive, especially considering that this is a debut record by the band.

I get the feeling that I'm hearing not only the best Passport album, but just about the best fusion record, period, from this era-it is that good. Five stars.