Andy Goldberg

Beledo's MoonJune Records debut, 'Dreamland Mechanism,' is a star-studded, multifarious affair. Supported by a cast of modern progressive jazz-fusion luminaries (featuring the likes of Gary Husband, Dewa Budjana and Lincoln Goines, for starters), the Uruguayan-born, NYC transplant guitar maestro puts not only his virtuosic guitar playing on display, but also his enormous talents on a variety of instruments, in a session with more twists, turns and surprises than an Agatha Christie novel! Equally showcased are Beledo's adept skills as a composer and arranger, as this engaging release covers the stylistic gamut in most convincing fashion.

Released by Funky Town Grooves in 2010 through EMI, this release combines the third and fourth albums by Brass Construction, which were originally issued, respectively, in 1977 and 1978. They were not among the band's best releases, but they did generate four charting singles, namely the Top 20 R&B hit "L-O-V-E-U," as well as "Celebrate," "Help Yourself," and "Get Up." There's a handful of solid album cuts, the best of which is the earlier album's "Top of the World," a jam that contains a wild guitar solo and an incredible breakdown. Casual fans should seek out either The Best of Brass Construction: Movin' & Changin' or Classic Masters.

This is the only LP from the incipient version of Geronimo Black — a supergroup of sorts featuring contributions from former Mothers of Invention members Jimmy Carl Black (drums/vocals), Buzz Gardner (cornet), his brother Bunk Gardner (flute/trumpet/bassoon/sax/organ/vocals), and Denny Walley (guitar/organ/vocals). Evidence that Frank Zappa initially worked with these musicians for their tremendous instrumental prowess is obvious throughout this self-titled effort. The angular and Baroque progressions of "Quaker's Earthquake" recall Zappa's orchestrations circa the Uncle Meat (1969) project…~Lindsay Planer (AMG)