George Copeland

Ruth Copeland's second Invictus recording retains the services of Funkadelic vets Eddie Hazel, Bernie Worrell, Tiki Fulwood, and Ron Bykowski, but like the preceding Self-Portrait, I Am What I Am simply fails to jell. Without the leadership and focus of George Clinton, the music zigs and zags in too many opposing directions. Credit Copeland for ambition – the opening antiwar epic "The Medal" recalls the politicized psychedelic soul of Norman Whitfield-era Temptations classics like "Cloud Nine" and "Ball of Confusion," while "Crying Has Made Me Stronger" shifts gears completely to embrace gospel – but her reach consistently exceeds her grasp. When I Am What I Am does come together, it's impressively heady stuff. Particularly noteworthy is the deep-fried funk outing "Suburban Family Lament," which showcases Hazel's scorching guitar as well as Fulwood's much-sampled and monstrous introductory drum break.

Perhaps aware of some creeping staleness in his records, Stanley Clarke brought in a lot of help and sailed in the general direction of the wave on Hideaway, but with only slightly improved results. George Howard, Angela Bofill, Herbie Hancock, Stewart Copeland (with whom Clarke would soon form Animal Logic), the newly emerged Stanley Jordan, and bass colleague Alphonso Johnson are some of the more recognizable names on board, and Clarke mans all of the instruments himself on the drum computer-driven "When It's Cold Outside."

George Russell - The African Game (1983) {Blue Note CDP 7463352 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) +CUE+LOG -> 274 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 109 Mb
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© 1983, 1997 Blue Note | CDP 7 46335 2
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Experimental Big Band / Progressive Jazz

George Russell's The African Game is a major statement, a highly eclectic, nine-part, 45-minute suite for augmented big band that attempts to depict no less than the evolution of the species from the beginning of time to the present from an African perspective. Well, yes, this theme has been taken on by many an ambitious artist in every field, but Russell's work is remarkably successful because it tries to embrace a massive world of sound in open, colorful, young-thinking terms, with degrees of timbral unity and emotion to keep the idioms from flying out of control.

If you are an electric bass player, this album will keep you busy for a while, listening to Mr. Clarke's excellent work. His range of tone qualities and techniques are amply exhibited here. This is a showcase for Stanley Clarke's virtuosity, and really an encyclopedia of the state of electric bass technique at the end of the 20th century.

Ravel - Piano Works - Vlado Perlemuter (1973) {2CD Set Nimbus NI 7713/4 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 329 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 296 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 43 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1973, 1996 Wyastone Estate / Nimbus Records | NI 7713/4
Classical / Impressionism / Early 20th Century / Piano

This set has been a favorite with critics since it was issued in 1979. Vlado Perlemuter studied Ravel's music with the composer. His approach is more colorful and dramatic than that of many other pianists. All the rigorous classical form Ravel used comes through, but so does a powerful musical personality. Just try, for example, the Toccata from Le Tombeau de Couperin, where Perlemuter builds up to a thrilling climax. The sound is more resonant than ideal, but this is still the best recording of Ravel's piano works ever made. Perlemuter's own Vox mono versions are poorly recorded; stick with the Nimbus edition.

From its previous all-England recording, the Oregon Symphony turns to all-American music for its third classical recording under Carlos Kalmar's direction. "Spirit of the American Range" presents three American works from the first half of the 20th century: Aaron Copland's third and final symphony, which includes the noble "Fanfare for the Common Man," Walter Piston's ballet suite from "The Incredible Flutist" and George Antheil's Jazz Symphony.