Search - Lenny White :: Venusian Summer

Wonderful! A much-overlooked fusion masterpiece!

D. Gorman "Crystalline Structure M | 01/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have no problem giving this album 5 stars or more! The drummer from Return to Forever delivers an incredible fusion album that never got the recognition it deserves! David Sancious does his usual wonderful job on keyboards on a few tunes. And the closing finale piece has superlative playing by fusion guitar legends Larry Coryell and Al DiMeola (they each take one long solo, then they trade alternating solos at the end...an album highlight, for sure!). Billed as a concept album (as hard as it is to do that with an instumental album), this CD features influences of jazz, rock, funk, an occasional drift into classical, and just GREAT performances by all the musicians involved, although I don't remember recognizing any of the personnel other than those I have mentioned. Wonderful guitar solos are plentiful........keyboards solos pop up here and there.......there's even a flute solo in there somewhere. And of course, Lenny's drumming is spectacular, as always. Lenny wrote or cowrote most of the songs.....although his fusion mindset on this album is much different (more rockin') than the tunes he wrote for Return to Forever. Still, if you like fusion and you're a Return to Forever fan, this is an overlooked classic that you just have to hear! Take my word for it!! Don't pass this one up!!!

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THE PRELUDE TO 'ROMANTIC WARRIOR'

R. M. Garner | Wolverhampton,England | 05/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As far as Jazz-Rock-Fusion albums go this is one of THE very best!As good-if not better than 'Romantic Warrior' by Return To Forever of which Lenny White was of course the drummer.Its not a coincidence that Venusian Summer sounds(in parts) like RW giving Lennys conections and the fact this album also features fellow RTF band mate Al Dimi-Ola.In fact this album came out a year before RW and what makes it stand out for me are the added sound effects such as Ocean Waves,Seagulls and haunting Winds that give this album an extra bit of mystery and intreague.What i like about all Lenny Whites albums is that he manages to combine the sparadic drumming of Billy Cobham and the explosive power of Narada Michael Walden and even though its 'HIS' album he lets other musicians share the limelight.On this album the guitar playing of Fusion legends RAYMOND GOMEZ,LARRY CORYELL and AL DIM-IOLA is fantastic!!!Add to that the Moog/synth playing of DAVID SANCIOUS aswell as Lennys tight drum work this is a true fusion classic,dreamy,spacey Jazz-Rock-Fusion of the very highest calibre...And while im here check out Lennys THE ADVENTURES OF THE ASTRAL PIRATES-another briliant album."