Wednesday 24 April 2024
Kiyoshi Hasegawa in Barbara (1983)
Monday 22 April 2024
Back to Frode Thingnaes with Queen Python, 1981
Information on this one discogged here. Most tracks were written by guitarist / engineer, Jan Erik Kongshaug.
Same light fusion as the preceding installments marred slightly (for myself, apologies to others) by the fact it's a live recording and therefore not perfect in terms of sound, and intensity. At any rate, I had to purchase and rip it as it was missing from his online digital discography (so far as I know, as usual, which is not too far).
It's also a very long album at about 50 minutes but that's nothing to celebrate since it entails constant repetitive solos by every musician.
Afterglow by Bob James really can take you back to those days in 1981, he was the guy who although quite prolific (and mid, as the kids would say) in the light funk / fusion sphere throughout the 70s, struck it HUGE with the TV theme for Taxi, starring lovely Merilu Henner-- does anybody else here remember that classic show? And this track also resembles that theme, with its nicely detailed and long melody:
CREDITS:
Bass – Jan Erik Kongshaug
Design [Cover] – Bruno Oldani
Drums – Thor Andreassen
Engineer [Mixing] – Jan Erik Kongshaug
Engineer [Recording] – Arne Akselberg
Guitar – Pete Knutsen
Keyboards – Henryk Lysiak
Lacquer Cut By – F*
Trombone, Euphonium – Frode Thingnæs
Recorded live at «Døla-jazz», Lillehammer and «Gjøvik-festivalen», Gjøvik in May 1981.
Friday 19 April 2024
Four for Jazz in 3 LPs 1970 - 1972 (Land of Dolls, Power of Nature, Sunday Child)
Basic, what they call contemporary jazz, with some fusion traces and elements that make it worth hearing--although perhaps only for the one run through. They do improve (get more fusionary) over the course of these three short years, information here.
Title track from Power of Nature:
Wednesday 17 April 2024
Danish Ariel with Solens Barn, 1980
Monday 15 April 2024
Danish Ariel from 1980
This is their first, the ST one. They play a fusion that is instrumental but leaning towards the jazzy side rather than electric. Nonetheless, quite original compositions and minimal wankery.
747 to Rio (sad indeed that jet airliner we grew up with was retired in favour of the silly and quite problematic 737, so sad):