what Jazz/fusion album are you listening to ?

Perhaps time to get a bit egocentric. This one was released in 1994 and he plays flute and saxes

darkshade wrote: Dick Heath wrote: Planet X : Quantum - first album of their's I felt sounds like a full jazz rock album, rather than a heavy rock album with the occasional jazzy solo.   COMPLETELY AGREE!

That's not very original, but i recently re-discovered
the best album from the Gong second era -thanks to the excellent 1989 american "Carolina" CD release-,: Expresso II. Not cold at all and a wonder of fluency and
technicity. Thanks to the Moerlen brothers, especially Pierre of course and Holdsworth's brillant guitar work.
This is better than Gazeuse and it's the last good one, Pierre Moerlen's Gong future release will be a terrible disapointment.




For one time, i can only agree with the Allmusic's review, and their rating (4.5/5):

"As interesting and fun as the Daevid Allen period was, the name Gong became more meaningful in the context of the music as percussionist Pierre Moerlen assumed the role of bandleader. An emphasis on percussives of all sorts became clear on Gazeuse, the band's first completely instrumental album, and the music became much jazzier, though never considered jazz.

Expresso II finds Pierre Moerlen's Gong at their peak. Like their previous studio release, Gazeuse!, the album is instrumental, the music is very polished, the sound very clean. Vibes and xylophone dominate on this album, somewhat reminiscent of the sound Zappa achieved through Ruth Underwood on One Size Fits All just three years earlier. The first two tracks, "Heavy Tune" and "Golden Dilemma," are the highlights here, partially due to the fact that the rest of the cuts all blend together and sound quite similar. The listener is pleasantly assaulted with a barrage of vibes, yet what a unique sound it is when heard on a rock-oriented album. Guitar combos rarely get much better than on "Heavy Tune," as Mick Taylor rips out leads over Allan Holdsworth's grinding rhythm guitar. The collective guitar sound achieved is one of restrained power; however, the piece can comparatively be considered a rocker. Gong shifts to a different gear with the following track, "Golden Dilemma," a faster-paced, jazzy piece with incredible solos from guitarist Bon Lozaga. Formerly of Curved Air, Darryl Way's violin is a highlight on "Sleepy" and "Boring" (neither of which apply). "Sleepy," which combines Way's violin with Holdsworth's guitar leads, prefigures the sound of the first U.K. album (Holdsworth went on to form U.K. with violinist Eddie Jobson). A very short album, Expresso II is possibly the strongest of the post-Allen Gong, and an essential album."

Edited by Chameleon - August 16 2007 at 13:38

Just got myself a proper CD of Susan Weinert's Running Out Of Time, one of the very best jazz rock albums with vocals, and Weinert provides some rare beautiful touches to her Holdsworthian guitar playing. Not changed my mind as this being the best jazz rock album of its year 2005 (recorded 2004) IMHO.

Chus wrote:

Dick Heath wrote: darksideof wrote: Chus wrote:  Man I dont have that album what's it like/   I have it and the follow up but to paraphrase an Allan Holdsworth quote: two great musicians playing together can inhibit each other, in avoiding the one outshining the other. Brad Mehldau released 3 or 4 really good  to great solo or trio albums prior to joining with Metheny. Having seen the two together at Birmingham's Symphony Hall in May and have my feelings reinforced that this is polite chamber jazz (definitely not jazz rock fusion) which has some highs with  two musicians seemingly playing well within their limits,  but really doesn't  get to the spectular  heights - something you might play at a dinner party but won't get disturbed if the guests talked over it..    Thanks to Bald Friede now got two of their CDs and been reacquainted with United Jazz & Rock Ensemble. Far more my cup of tea, especially with Barbara Thompson, Ian Carr, Albert Mangelsdorff, Eberhard Weber, Jon Hiseman + others playing.

Dick Heath wrote: Planet X : Quantum - first album of their's I felt sounds like a full jazz rock album, rather than a heavy rock album with the occasional jazzy solo.

Love this record, gotta get this back in my car for tomorrow.