John Macdonald

John Ellis was a founder member of legendary The Cinematic Orchestra and contributed heavily to their albums „Everyday“ and „Man With The Movie Camera“. He has also worked with the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae and Lilly Allen and led his own trio and big-band. His Gondwana Records debut „Evolution: Seeds & Streams“ is a cinematic masterpiece drawing on jazz, dance and Malian music.

A new smooth jazz indie artist looking to make his way among the established throng needs all the advantages he can get marketing wise, and what better a selling point could this electric guitarist have than having top flight all-stars on his debut? Mixing up easy funk, mid-tempo blues and instrumental power ballads, Tropea bounces off the fresh creative input of bassist Will Lee, keyboardists Paul Shaffer Ricky Peterson, drummer Steve Gadd and saxman Tom Scott.

"You can't judge a book…" And, sure enough, although Scottish fiddler John McCusker appears on the cover of this album sporting what seems to be a tufted mohawk haircut, this is not the goofy Celtic-pop fusion-fest such a picture might imply. Rather, it's a sweet set of original, inventive instrumental fiddle tunes (and one gorgeous vocal number featuring his ever-lovely partner, Kate Rusby)… A simple, understated album, and one that successfully sheds the sometimes-dour sensibilities of his old group, the Battlefield Band. Recommended! (Amazon customer)

This collection, marking the end of John Wetton's association with E.G. Records, is a somewhat skewed compilation of his work in the seventies.