1973-02-27 - Dome, CW Post University, Greenvale, NY
01. Birds Of Fire (11:08)
02. Open Country Joy (9:04)
03. Hope (1:53)
04. Awakening (15:25)
05. Miles Beyond (11:40)
06. One Word (16:09)
07. Vital Transformation (5:34)
Billy Cobham - drums
Jerry Goodman - violin
Jan Hammer - keyboards
Rick Laird - bass
John McLaughlin - guitar
McLaughlin's 12-string arpeggios begin washing over the audience as the group opens with the title track to Birds Of Fire. A dynamic exchange between guitar and drums versus violin, keyboards and bass unfolds. In the unusual time signature of 18/8, the interwoven nature of the arrangement makes for a thrilling and intense experience, although one unlike anything most jazz or rock music fans had ever heard before. Upon the song's sizzling conclusion, the group segues directly into another track from the new album, "Open Country Joy," a strutting, gradually intensifying urban blues that is the least complex, most accessible music the classic lineup ever played. Vacillating between a laid back pastoral feel and frenzied rocking power, this composition's disarming rustic theme provides the initial musical contrast within this set.
The set continues with the uplifting "Hope," a short composition free of solos. In 7/8 time, "Hope" unfolds in an elegant, magisterial way, anchored by a repeating melodic phrase that gradually builds in intensity. Cobham's drumming, which fuels the escalating intensity of this composition, suddenly blasts off at its conclusion, launching the group into a track from the debut album, "Awakening." Following Cobham's opening, Jerry Goodman takes flight followed by Jan Hammer. Their improvisations serve to set up listeners for the astonishing barrage that McLaughlin unleashes several minutes later.
This develops into a great example of the chemistry between McLaughlin and Cobham and features unison playing at it's most astounding. Both interject an endless barrage of ideas, while Cobham often does more with a hi-hat and snare drum than most drummers are capable of with an entire kit. This has moments of frightening intensity and the telepathy between these musicians is quite astonishing. Cobham concludes the improvisations with a solo of his own before the band wraps things up with the composition's dizzying conclusion.
Next up is McLaughlin's homage to Miles Davis, "Miles Beyond." Often mistakenly attributed to Davis, this McLaughlin original pays tribute to one of his greatest mentors while providing a funkier context for these musicians to explore their improvisational abilities.
The set concludes with the staggering intensity of "One Word," which takes things to the next level. A centerpiece composition from the Birds Of Fire album, this begins with the haunting and ominous opening sequence, which gives way to an improvisation between Hammer's synthesizer and Laird's bass. This slowly develops with Laird's bass becoming the prominent driving element, gradually becoming more active and deepening the groove as McLaughlin accents the jam with his rhythmically slashing guitar comping. Eventually McLaughlin, Goodman and Hammer develop a three-way call and response. Beneath all this, Laird and Cobham anchor things, while contributing to the overall searing effect. Following the barrage of solos, Billy Cobham also gets a brief showcase, beginning smoothly and continuously escalating in both speed and dynamics, preparing one for the composition's dizzying conclusion.
To fully pummel the audience into submission, they oblige an encore by closing the night with "Vital Transformation." In 9/8 time, this contains some of the most furious playing that the band would ever achieve. Charismatic, powerful and blazing with energy, this is a tour-de-force synthesis of jazz, rock, funk and R&B condensed into six minutes of pure power.
http://fp.io/7ca8f3a5/
No comments:
Post a Comment