Experiments With Pops

Artist: Gordon Beck
Label: Art Of Life
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 804640100126
EAN: 0804640100126
ASIN: B00005NESR

Release Date: 2004-03-16

Related Categories:

Avant Garde & Free Jazz

| Jazz | Styles | Music

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| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

These Boots Are Made For Walking
Norwegian Wood
Sunny
Up, Up and Away
MichellE
I Can See For Miles
Good Vibrations
Monday, Monday

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Customer Reviews:

No classic but still an enjoyable memento of the British 1960s jazz scene.......2007-03-13

This one is treasured by guitar fans for a glimpse of John McLaughlin (or "Johnny McLaughlin" as the sleeve has it) in 1967, two years before his debut on _Extrapolation_. It's a clever, maybe too-clever idea for an album--I have no problem with the idea of jazz-goes-pop or pop-goes-jazz, but pianist Gordon Beck's hyperactive Bill Evans style & elaborate recomposition/reharmonization of tunes like "Michelle", "These Boots Were Made for Walking" and "Good Vibrations" isn't entirely to my taste. (Nowadays I think jazz musicians are more comfortable with the idea of playing pop tunes _as pop tunes_ rather than having to "reshape" them or "elevate" them. But of course back in 1967 jazz fusion and jazz-rock were still a few years from being fully-fledged movements or styles.....) It's hard to go wrong, in any case, with McLaughlin, bassist Jeff Clyne (a mainstay of British jazz, from the mainstream to the experimental free improv band the Spontaneous Music Ensemble) and drummer Tony Oxley (most famous as a founder of the UK avant-garde, but also a veteran of many commercial/mainstream gigs). Beck's attractive but glib piano doesn't do a lot for me, but McLaughlin's imaginative, ecstatic blend of jazz, blues and rock is already pretty impressive even in embryo, & it's fascinating to hear him sparring with Oxley two years before _Extrapolation_--notice, for instance, the way that the music (& the band) really gets a lot looser and more interesting during McLaughlin's solo on "These Boots...". Pity that the solos are cut short most of the time--the tracks are mostly in the 3 to 5 minute range--but the music is otherwise more than just a curio. If you're a McLaughlin fan this is, needless to say, essential.

better than you think.......2004-10-23

I originally came across this cd after doing extensive research into John Mclaughlin's studio work of the 1960's.At first I was concerned this would be another cheezy jazz attempt at performing 60s pop rock.I was pleasantly surprised.This album is jazz.Although they cover pop songs they make them their own
Excellent performances from the quartet.A great find for any Mclaughlin fan.The first track is on fire .The rest of the cd is a much lighter edge but definetly unique.
I would also recommend the "Danny Thopson trio-Live 1967"
which also contains rare Mclaughlin from the same year except without drums.Great straight ahead jazz album.

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