Jon Young Thropugh Native Eyes

Any project in the works for two decades is bound to generate its fair share of myths and so it is with Neil Young's Archives, a series of a multi-disc box sets chronicling Young's history. Originally envisioned in the late '80s as a Decade II, the project quickly mutated into a monster covering every little corner of Neil's career…

On Keith Jarrett's first recording with his "European" quartet - Jan Garbarek (sax), Palle Danielsson (bass), Jon Christensen (drums) - he stakes out somewhat less abrasive territory than that which his "American" foursome was exploring at this time. Garbarek sports a neutral, vibratoless tone that occasionally reaches an emotional climax; the rhythm section is supportive and just loose enough. The record operates at its strongest level when Jarrett locks the quartet into his winning gospel mode on "'Long as You Know You're Living Yours" and the tense drive of "Spiral Dance"; the reflective numbers are less compelling. Still, this album successfully bucked the powerful electric trends of its time and holds up well today.

On Keith Jarrett's first recording with his "European" quartet - Jan Garbarek (sax), Palle Danielsson (bass), Jon Christensen (drums) - he stakes out somewhat less abrasive territory than that which his "American" foursome was exploring at this time. Garbarek sports a neutral, vibratoless tone that occasionally reaches an emotional climax; the rhythm section is supportive and just loose enough. The record operates at its strongest level when Jarrett locks the quartet into his winning gospel mode on "'Long as You Know You're Living Yours" and the tense drive of "Spiral Dance"; the reflective numbers are less compelling. Still, this album successfully bucked the powerful electric trends of its time and holds up well today.

Gordon studied with Phil Woods in his younger days but has transcended any influence from him and has found his own voice. His playing is without any of the cliches one could imagine in contemporary alto playing, and his tone on both alto and soprano is really nice. What sets this recording apart is the presence of the three horns - Tim Hagans on trumpet and Mark Turner on tenor saxophone. Several of the tunes really get into the voicings of two and three horns together, creating harmonies and sounds that are inventive and inspiring. There is a lot of improvising even when all three horns are playing at once and it works. The line between composition and improvisation is fluid and seamless. Imaginitive and cohesive playing by all five musicians, and always seeming to fit the spirit of the composition.

The deluxe edition box set of Archives Volume II: 1972-1976 contains 10 CDs with 131 tracks, including 12 songs that have never been released in any form, and 49 new unreleased versions of Young’s classics—studio and live recordings, both solo and with Crazy Horse (Odeon Budokan), The Stray Gators (Tuscaloosa), the Santa Monica Flyers (Roxy: Tonight's the Night Live), Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and The Stills Young Band.

London Records will issue brand new two-CD deluxe editions of the Fine Young Cannibals two studio albums in December. The band’s debut single ‘Johnny Come Home’ was a top ten hit in 1985 and the self-titled debut album reached number 11 in the UK charts the same year after further singles were issued, including a cover of Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’. In 1989, Fine Young Cannibals hit the commercial stratosphere, particularly in America, with The Raw & The Cooked. The first two singles ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ and ‘Good Thing’ both were number one singles in the USA and were top ten hits in Britain (and around the world). The band split in 1992 although they did record a new single, ‘The Flame’, for a 1996 best of.