FRIENDS

FRIENDS seems like it was led by sax player Marc Cohen as he is not only the main composer, but he's all over this record. And it's the insane playing of Mr. Cohen that makes this a difficult listen. He's mainly playing electric sax and it's tripped out, making some unheard of sounds in the process. In fact I was thinking Free Jazz at times, just because he's so all over much of this. And it's the opener and closer that are the two most difficult of the four tracks. And Cohen wrote those two. Marc also co-produced this album.

I should probably mention that John Abercrombie is here playing guitars. You might not recognize him at times as this is far from his ECM label days, where most of us know him from. He is unmasked here as Captain Shredder. Jeff Williams on drums and Clint Houston on mostly electric bass. All four of these guys had already played with some Jazz legends despite the early recording date. And all would continue to venture in the Jazz world. Interesting that Cohen would trade his sax in for piano, becoming an accomplished Jazz pianist.

We get four long instrumental tracks that are dense and complex to the power of ten. The production doesn't help with this as the sounds at times blend together like a stew. This does get annoying thanks to that and the sax. But there are so many highlights mostly on the two middle songs, enough that I can at least hang my hat on it. I just don't feel that this is a 4 star record when it comes to my enjoyment level. The insane musicianship that will leave your jaw on the floor makes up for that.

It was tough re-visiting this last week. Not an easy album to sit down and listen to. Over the top in so many ways. This is a document(album) that these four jazz musicians could present at anytime, showing that their credentials are in fact, in order, and beyond reproach.

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