Involuntary Bass Bliss
Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 11/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With all these jazz-funk-fusion bass players such as Stanley Clarke,Jaco Pastorius and the like beginning solo careers in the mid 70's it seemed only fitting that Weather Report's Alphonso Johnson would do the same thing. With a list of over a bakers dozen musicans-everyone from Patrice Rushen,Lee Ritenour,Flora Purim,Ndugu Chancler,Ian Underwood and Gary Bartz you'd think the sound on this album is very cluttered. It doesn't.The music on this album emerges as a musical feast that is easily as potent and meaningful as a Weather Report album such as Mysterious Traveller and Tale Spinnin':with a sound that maintains a fusion of funk,latin and progressive jazz with avante garde touches. "Stump","Up From The Cellar" and "On The Case" are spot on jazz-funk where Alphonso works his bass into grooves AND excellent compositions that that really provide this great musical kick and the groove actually mutates along with the instrumentation as opposed to somewhat against it,setting it well apart from Weather Report. The middle section of the album is set up with the more abstract and atmospheric Brazillian-fusion pieces with "Involuntary Bliss","Cosmoba Place" and "Pandora's Box". All are very beautiful but also very haunting and forboding. Then again,isn't great beauty in pretty much anything kind of the same way? "Amarteifio" presents a very Flora Purimish sound...featuring Flora Purim and it's a wonderful marriage of vocalist and musician's sound combining into one. And yet more proof that Flora's sense of being a human musical instrument with an ability to keep up with just about any musician she's involved with. I must respectfully say that I don't entirely agree with another reviews comment on "Unto Thine Own Self Be True". I always appreciated Narada Michael Walden's spiritual/meditative approch to his brand of progressive funk/fusion and this cut could've easily come off of Narada's own Garden of Love Light. If he is to be considered one of the prejenitors of new age Narada was someone who got it right somewhere. This album is a vital part of the 70's funk/fusion movement and with it's great album cover also reflects the artistic spirit of the period. There is a sense of great freedom and thoughtfullness in this music and,as in the best of funk of the period it invites you to join in and be merry while your having the musical experience."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1