Record Reviews
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  | SANTANA ~ SUPERNATURAL
ARISTA 078221908023 (Barcode: 078221908023) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion
Recorded: 1997 - 1999 Released: 1999
This is the 18th studio album by the American group SantanaFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Carlos SantanaFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, seven of which were composed or co-composed by Santana and the rest originated from outside of the group. The album features a new lineup of the group with keyboardist Chester D. ThompsonFind albums by this artist, bassist Benny RietveldFind albums by this artist and drummer Rodney HolmesFind albums by this artist, but numerous additional musicians, vocalists and guest stars took part in the recording, including guitar legend Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist on one track. The album was released on the AristaFind albums on this label Records label, founded by producer Clive DavisFind albums by this artist, who originally signed the group to ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records in 1969. The album was a huge commercial success.
The music marks a significant stylistic change in Santana’s career, obviously moving towards the commercial Pop market. Yet despite this transition, the music retained many of the basic Santana characteristics, like the strong Latin music influences and of course the familiar Carlos Santana guitar licks, which albeit shorter and more concise, are still as brilliant as ever.
In retrospect, considering the vast amount of superb music Santana recorded over time, the stylistic change was to be expected at some time. This music is quite far from the Jazz improvisation soaked early recordings, but it remains better that most contemporary Pop efforts attempted at the time.
Overall, it is a sort of Jazz-Pop Fusion classic in its own niche of Latin influenced music, which withstands the test of time with ease, and a quarter of a Century later is still quite listenable, with a tear in one’s eye corner.
| | Updated: 30/05/2026Posted: 30/05/2026 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ TIME IS THE KEY
ESOTERIC 2236 (Barcode: 5013929733626) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010
This is the 2nd album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as keyboardist Peter LemerFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | LARRY CORYELL ~ ASPECTS / TWO FOR THE ROAD / EUROPEAN IMPRESSIONS
FLOATING WORLD 6483 (Barcode: 805772648326) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1976 - 1978 Released: 2025
This is a 2CD reissue of three albums by the iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, all released in the late 1970s on the AristaFind albums on this label label.
“Aspects” from 1976 was recorded by the Fusion ensemble Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist, which features Coryell along Japanese trumpeter Terumasa HinoFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Mike MandelFind albums by this artist, bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerry BrownFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, three originals by Coryell, two by Mandel, one each by Lee and Brown and finally one by guitarist Danny ToanFind albums by this artist, who is one of several star guests, including saxophonist Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist (who produced the album), guitarist Steve KhanFind albums by this artist and saxophonist David SanbornFind albums by this artist. The music is a scorching set of Fusion, Funky, Soul and Groove numbers, with brilliant guitar work by the leader and all the participants.
“Two For The Road” from 1977 is a duo album with guitarist Steve Khan, which in complete contrast to “Aspects” is strictly acoustic set, one of several brilliant guitar duo albums Coryell loved to record and grabbed every opportunity to do so. The album presents seven tracks, one original composition by Coryell, one co-composed by both guitarists and the rest are Jazz standards. The album is a true “Art of the Duo” jewel, showing the great interplay between the two guitarists and their individual skills.
“European Impressions” from 1978 is a solo acoustic guitar album, recorded partly live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (three tracks) and a studio recording in NY (four tracks), six of which are original compositions by Coryell and one is a standard. As all his solo guitar albums, this is a stunning example of Coryell’s acoustic guitar virtuosity
Overall, all three albums are of course worthy of an honorable place in any serious Jazz record collection, like everything Coryell ever recorded right up to his premature death in 2017. I had the opportunity to hear Larry perform many times and spent many evening conversing with him and his wife Julie. This reissue makes these albums available again at a budget price, so if you don’t own the LP versions, don’t even think twice.
| | Updated: 19/03/2026Posted: 19/03/2026 | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICHAL URBANIAK ~ BODY ENGLISH
UBX 1017 (Barcode: 5099902839325) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2014
This is a reissue of the only album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist released originally on the AristaFind albums on this label label in 1976. Following Urbaniak´s departure from ColumbiaFind albums on this label after recording three albums for the label, he released just one album on the AtlanticFind albums on this label label in 1975 with a group called Funk FactoryFind albums by this artist (not bearing his name for contractual reasons) and moved on to Arista. The team that recorded the album included also his wife at the time, vocalist Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and excellent young American players: keyboardist Harold WilliamsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Joe CaroFind albums by this artist, bassist Basil FearringtonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve JordanFind albums by this artist and a few guests. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Urbaniak.
Musically the album continues the direction of the Columbia and Atlantic albums, offering a unique blend of Jazz-Rock Fusion, which includes strong Polish Folklore influences in its melodic motifs. The sound is much more influenced by synthesizers than on any of the previous albums and Dudziak´s voice is much less prominent, but the stylistic similarity is consistent and easily recognizable. Urbaniak´s ability to combine Funk, Groove, Fusion and World Music influences set him apart from his contemporaries and in retrospect this album still sounds refreshing and fascinating.
The most intriguing aspect of this and the earlier albums mentioned above is the fact that Urbaniak, who arrived in the US just a short while ago, is more genuinely Funky, Groovy and Swinging than any of his US contemporaries, paving the way for Jazz-World Fusion more boldly than the "natives". As such he surely deserves the credit and appreciation for his innovative spirit.
For Funk and Fusion fans, this is an absolute must, a timeless album that keeps kicking the butt as forcefully as it at the time of its release over four decades ago.
| | Updated: 13/09/2019Posted: 11/09/2019 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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