Jazz Articles

Nik Turner: Life In Space

by Glenn Astarita
December 3, 2017

The British reedman, vocalist, and former member of the legendary space rock band Hawkwind navigates the cosmos once again. For some, Life in Space may equate to solitude and awe, but Nik Turner's festive approach may be more conducive to joyriding on Comets. Indeed, the artist's vocals take on an air of innocence, often mixed evenly among the sprinkling and streaming electronics effects atop sprawling grooves and drummer Jason Willer's thrusting backbeats. Whereas, many of these works contain memorable riffs ...

Daevid Allen Weird Quartet: Elevenses

by Glenn Astarita
May 5, 2016

Australian, Daevid Allen was one of the original progressive rock wizards who founded Soft Machine and Gong, nestled within the British Canterbury movement and beyond. Sadly, he passed away on March 13, 2016. Elevenses will stand-- barring any reissues from the vault--as his final album and the second release by his Weird Quartet. Allen's solo jaunts are quite varied and includes his University of Errors band amid other projects. Perhaps The Daily Telegraph sums up his legacy and ...

Larry Coryell: Aurora Coryellis

by Glenn Astarita
November 25, 2015

In the 1970s musicians were spinning new threads on the jazz language and guitarist Larry Coryell prominently figured into these schematics while also designated as one of the grandfathers of jazz fusion, namely due to his electrified work with vibraphonist Gary Burton on Duster (RCA, 1967). This 3-CD box set complete with a detailed booklet captures the artist at three different venues performing solo acoustic guitar, fusion and a revved up modern jazz guitar trio setting. These discs present an ...

Various Artists: Light My Fire: A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors

by Glenn Astarita
August 16, 2014

Southern California-based Purple Pyramid Records and producer, instrumentalist Billy Sherwood raised the bar with this tribute to The Doors by convening a star-studded cast, featuring classic rockers performing with progressive rock luminaries. And the jazz contingent is onboard, evidenced by jazz guitar great Larry Coryell appearing with Focus keyboardist Thijs Van Leer on “Love Me Two Times." When I first broke the seal on this recording and perused the personnel listing I was delighted yet partly suspicious, fearing ...

ROVO and System 7: Phoenix Rising

by Glenn Astarita
November 17, 2013

Fabled British progressive rock guitarist Steve Hillage was a pioneer back in the 1970s via his work with Gong. His morphing of far- out, psychedelic guitar licks with cutting edge prog stylizations became highly influential. Moreover, the guitarist's solo albums during this time fused electronics with dreamy soundscapes, sturdy backbeats and memorably melodic comps. Moving forward, Hillage and fellow Gong alumni, keyboardist Miquette Giraudy formed System 7 in 1989, shifting focus to the house beat, ambient electronica and space-rock art-forms. ...

Nik Turner: Space Gypsy

by Glenn Astarita
November 5, 2013

Nik Turner (woodwinds, vocals) was a member of the seminal British space-rock band, Hawkwind. Here, he rekindles the days of yore with a splendid new offering that proffers a fresh perspective. To a certain extent, Space Gypsy generates a contrast of how current and perhaps cleaner digital technology contrasts the warmer, full-bodied sound of analog, when considering Hawkwind's 70s albums, for example. Regardless, Turner's tuneful works are standalone entries, paralleling his roots. Coupled with his popping and serrated sax lines, ...

Nektar: Journey To The Centre Of The Eye

by Glenn Astarita
April 7, 2013

British progressive-rock band Nektar's epic 1971 Sci-Fi, spacey, psychedelic debut Journey To The Centre Of The Eye, benefits from a finely engineered re-mastering job, along with a vintage bonus disc featuring a live performance of the album. During its day, the band achieved great success outside its native UK and settled in Germany, where this production was recorded. This album paved the way for its seminal masterpiece Remember the Future (1973, Bellaphon) and other gold albums that followed.

Brand X: Manifest Destiny

by John W. Patterson
September 1, 1999

Oh baby, this is why I love band reunions or should I say band revivals. For this is one on-fire, cranked-up, slammin’ and funkified fusion fest. John Goodsall, Percy Jones, and the gang whirl you around by your heels until your brain pops. Being a dormant entity for most of the ‘80s, Brand X is obviously very much back with this second post-reunited offering. With drummer Frank Katz and vibesman Mark Wagnon from Jones’ Tunnels band — Brand X is ...

Billy Cobham: Focused

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 1999

Jazz, Fusion pioneer Billy Cobham returns with a new band and a new look, featuring the electronic or digitally treated trumpet work of Randy Brecker. Cobham, as the liners suggest places a strong emphasis on composition and tight-knit ensemble work.

Other than his now legendary work with John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, his early 1970’s recording “Spectrum” which featured guitarist Tommy Bolin and keyboard whiz Jan Hammer is considered a modern day “fusion” classic. On “Focused”, Cobham and trumpet great Randy ...