BE Bop

Bebop is the thing on this excellent outing as altoist Charles McPherson and pianist Barry Harris do their interpretations of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. With trumpeter Carmell Jones, bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Al "Tootie" Heath completing the quintet, the band romps through such bop classics as "Hot House," "Nostalgia," "Wail" and "Si Si" along with an original blues and "Embraceable You." A previously unissued "If I Love You" is added to the CD reissue. McPherson and Jones make for a potent frontline on these spirited performances, easily recommended to fans of straightahead jazz.

Be Bop Deluxe - Drastic Plastic (1978) {2008 Harvest Japan Mini LP TOCP-70363}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 336 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 124 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 26 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 2008 Harvest / EMI Music Japan / Toshiba | TOCP-70363 | Mini LP
Rock / Art Rock / Contemporary Pop / Prog Rock / Glam Rock

Guitarist/leader Bill Nelson has always had his head in a space that's defined by the 1950s World's Fair idea of the future - a world of monorails and strange machines. This is particularly evident here, with Nelson's affection for Japan competing for space with paeans to electrical communication. At times charming and even romantic, at other times outré, Drastic Plastic marked the end of the band and hinted at Nelson's musical experiments to come.

Be Bop Deluxe - Live! In The Air Age (1977) {2008 Harvest Japan Mini LP TOCP-70362}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 317 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 125 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 117 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 2008 Harvest / EMI Music Japan / Toshiba | TOCP-70362 | Mini LP
Rock / Art Rock / Contemporary Pop / Prog Rock / Glam Rock

Originally released on white vinyl as a double set in which one disc was an LP while the other was a 12" EP, Live! In the Air Age is an impressive testament to one of prog rock's more interesting results. Bandleader Bill Nelson is better known for his solo work of the '80s and on, but prior to that he was a burgeoning guitar hero with a blazing style and a talented bunch of players backing him up.