Bill Gottlieb

This debut album from Gottlieb is one of the great hidden gems of jazz fusion. It is intricate and funky, bright and colorful all at the same time. All the instrumenalists are virtuosos, and if you happen to be a drummer, you'll be in awe of the mastery of Danny Gottlieb, who hails from the early incarnation of the Pat Metheny Group and Mahavishnu.

Danny Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is a freelance drummer who has performed as part of the Pat Metheny Group, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Elements. He is also a member of the University of North Florida jazz faculty, where he teaches as a full-time Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies. This great followup album has an incredible list of sidemen, featuring John Abercrombie, Trilok Gurtu, Nana Vasconcelos and many others.

Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb have been longtime friends, starting with their days at the University of Miami in the early '70s and continuing during their period with Pat Metheny (Egan was in the guitarist's group from 1978-1980, while Gottlieb stayed until 1983). They formed Elements in 1982, which, from its start, also included Bill Evans on soprano and tenor and keyboardist Clifford Carter; guitarist Steve Khan, keyboardist Gil Goldstein, several percussionists, saxophonist David Mann, and other players have been guests.