BEFOUR (WITH THE TRINITY)

I did not expect that an album full of covers would work so well for me. There is one original though and it's the closer and one of my favourites on here. And while I want to say this is my number one Brian Auger album, I need to here the followup to this "Oblivion Express" which sounds more like what I'm into, but for now this is the Auger album I prefer.

And what a lineup with Gary Boyle on guitar and he would have his own band ISOTOPE plus he played live with SOFT MACHINE. Clive Thacker on drums and he would replace John Marshall in NUCLEUS. David Ambrose on bass from THE JEFF BECK GROUP. So we have some players with Auger playing the organ here and being the most prominent sound. And he sounds amazing. It's just such a warm and melodic tone much of the time bringing Marc Moulin from PALCEBO/ COS to mind.

This doesn't all work in my opinion like the TRAFFIC cover "No Time To Live" but I love that he went old school Jazz covering an Eddie Harris tune "Listen Here" and Boyle keeps busy on this one. Also "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock and it's a rare mid 60's Jazz album that I can handle and this is a shortened version of the title track from that one and it's great! There's a couple of Classical numbers they cover plus SLY's "I Want To Take You Higher" to open the album with vocals and energy.

It's the original track though "Just You Just Me" that makes me sad only because this is such an incredible song and more original numbers would have been appreciated. The organ sounds beautiful on here when the song goes instrumental, and the guitar deserves a mention as well. Just such an uplifting piece. The first 2 minutes are vocals, drums and bass leading the way then the vocals step aside for the guitar which is then replaced by Auger's handy work.

I'm glad to own this but it's not the cream of the crop when it comes to my Jazz and related music. A solid 4 stars for this 1970 release.