Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kansas: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973

Kansas: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973

By Glenn Astarita
December 8, 2002
View read count

Kansas: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973

Kansas had a multitude of chart topping singles and LPs during the '70s. And were known for melding progressive rock with catchy twists and melodic hooks. However, this recording represents the band during the formative years, consisting of live and studio tracks. While the group’s founder and leader, guitarist Kerry Livgren lays it all out rather nicely in the liners.

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...

Cuneiform Records

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

Kansas

Lynn Meredith: vocals

Album information

Title: Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973 | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Cuneiform Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Centric
< Previous

Wait For Me
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.