Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kansas: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973
Kansas: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973
The musicians’ midwestern roots presented a fish-out-of-water syndrome. Especially, when considering the period - and the band’s progressive rock style initiatives. With the opener titled “Hegemonium,” Dan Wright’s profoundly stated Hammond B-3 riffs and John Bolton’s electric sax work amid the ensemble’s stately unison lines spark notions of “Van Der Graaf Generator.” Throughout, the musicians shrewdly indulge in pleasantly neurotic, free form escapades and complex time signatures. They conjure up remembrances of the British Canterbury scene, thanks to Bolton’s whimsical flute passages on selected tracks!
The group also explores melodically shaded themes and jazzy methodologies, along with majestic choruses witnessed on “Incomudro,” and elsewhere. Overall, this recording presents a rather stunning (if somewhat unexpected) glimpse of early Kansas. The band’s ardent admirers should pick this one up. Otherwise, fans of the '70s progressive rock movement might reap some surprising benefits here. Recommended...
Track Listing
1.Hegemonium 2.Reunion in the Mountains of Sarne 3.Nactolos 21 4.Belexes 5.Totus Nemesis 6.Greek Structure Sunbeam 7.Incomudro 8.Cyclopy 9.Skont
Personnel
Lynn Meredith: vocals
Album information
Title: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973 | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Cuneiform Records
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