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"...Candles..."
Jazz-Fusion virtuoso Guitarist STEVE KHAN sees his first three Solo albums from the late Seventies reissued by Beats Goes On (BGO) of the UK in proper style. If you're a Jazz-Funk fan like me – there's a lot on here to get your knickers in a knot about (despite a shaky start). Here are the elastic expanded details...
UK released 20 April 2015 (delayed from March 2015) – "Tightrope/The Blue Man/Arrows" by STEVE KHAN on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1178 (Barcode 5017261211781) is a Compilation that features 3LPs Remastered on 2CDs and breaks down as follows:
Disc 1 (37:57 minutes):
1. Some Punk Funk [Side 1]
2. Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)
3. Tightrope (For Folon)
4. The Big Ones [Side 2]
5. Star Chamber
6. Soft Summer Breeze
7. Where Shadows Meet
Tracks 1 to 7 are his Debut LP "Tightrope" – released January 1978 in the USA on Columbia/Tappan Zee Records JC 34857 and April 1978 in the UK on CBS Records 82230
Disc 2 (75:52 minutes):
1. Daily Bulls [Side 1]
2. The Blue Man
3. Some Down Time
4. The Little Ones [Side 2]
5. Daily Valley
6. An Eye Over Autumn – For Folon
Tracks 1 to 6 are his 2nd album "The Blue Man" – released 1978 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 35539 and in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 83146
1. Daily Bulls [Side 1]
2. The Blue Man
3. Some Down Time
4. The Little Ones [Side 2]
5. Daily Valley
6. An Eye Over Autumn – For Folon
Tracks 1 to 6 are his 2nd album "The Blue Man" – released 1978 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 35539 and in the UK on CBS Records S CBS 83146
7. City Suite – Part 1: City Monsters/Part II: Dream City [Side 1]
8. Candles
9. Daily Village [Side 2]
10. Some Arrows
11. Calling
Tracks 7 to 11 are his 3rd album "Arrows" – released 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36129 (No UK release)
The packed 24-page booklet repro's all artwork and track-by-track musician credits along with in-depth liner notes from noted Musicologist CHARLES WARING (a regular contributor to Mojo). The outer card wrap that now accompanies all BGO CD releases gives the whole shebang a classy feel and there's 2015 remasters by ANDREW THOMPSON that let all that musical expertise shine through. Both CDs sound lovely.
Brought to Columbia Records by the Blood, Sweat & Tears Drummer Bobby Colomby and Keyboard Wizard Bob James (James Produces and provides the liner notes for his debut album) – "Tightrope" features four Steve Khan originals augmented by three covers – the Gamble & Huff O'Jays hit "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)", Randy Brecker's "The Big Ones" and an old Eddie Heywood favourite called "Soft Summer Breeze". The debut album features a stellar cast – Mike Brecker on Tenor Saxophone, Bob James on Keyboards, Steve Gadd and Ralph McDonald on Drums and Percussion respectively - while session all-stars like David Sanborn plays the Alto Sax solo on "The Big Ones". Khan provides Lead Guitar of course with back up from class players like Jeff Mironov and David Spinozza. All songs are Jazz Fusion instrumentals firmly in the groove of Funky – stuff like "Soft Summer Breeze" feels like George Benson's "Love Ballad" from his superb 2LP set "Livin' Inside Your Love" minus the vocals with a few more Rock Fusion breaks thrown in for good measure. The worst you can say about this album is that despite all that world-class musicianship and technical flash - too many of the tunes fail to ignite into anything genuinely special. They’re busy and beautifully produced and all – but only on stuff
For his 2nd effort "The Blue Man" - Khan took over Production and provided five of the six tracks with "The Little Ones" being a Randy Brecker contribution. And what a difference! "The Blue Man" LP feels far more grown-up than its predecessor with the title track in particular impressing - a wonderful swirling fusion instrumental with Don Grolnick providing Fender Rhodes and ARP Pro solos to gorgeous effect while Khan finishes off the six-minute piece with some of his most fluid playing. Things take a slappy-bass Funk turn with "Some Down Time" where the band clearly goes after that 12” dancefloor market. With it’s Brecker and Sanborn Trumpet and Saxophone breaks and slinky guitar flicks and driving groove – it feels like Steely Dan circa "Aja" going for the Funk for 5:28 minutes (its superb). David Sanborn provides the Alto Saxophone solo in "The Little Ones" which is again wickedly funky in ways the first album never got near (Khan playing a blinding Solo half way through both Becker and Fagen would have said yes to). And on it goes to the near nine-minute finisher "An Eye Over Autumn" which actually goes “Aja” in a big way allowing both Michael Brecker and Steve Gadd solo spots on the Tenor Sax and Drums (respectively) – a great way to end a great album.
Album Number 3 "Arrows" features liner notes from none other than Donald Fagen of some Seventies Group I worship (can't remember their steam-powered dildo name - STEELY DAN!). It opens with the two-part twelve-minute "City Suite" which comes on like Todd Rundgren's Utopia just finding their Funky Nirvana on the bedside table beside their copy of the Kama Sutra. It Funks and chunks and twists around guitars and Saxophones until about five and half minutes in – the tune goes into a Piano/Drums battle that is followed by a groovy guitar passage. We get laid back with the pretty "Candles" which sports cleverly echoed Lead Guitar and Saxophones. Despite being surprisingly hissy in the transfer – his playing is superb on it and probably Khan's best work across the three albums. Michael Brecker provides Soprano Saxophone on the slinky "Daily Village" where Don Grolnick's work on the ARP and Fender Rhodes gives the tune a West Coast funky polish. But my fave on the album is the beautifully crafted finisher "Calling" – a mid-tempo shuffler where Errol 'Crusher' Bennett gives it some fabulous Percussion throughout (also features Sax Solo by David Sanborn).
This 3-onto-2 compilation is not all genius for sure - and I can't help feel that even with those nuggets on "Arrows" and the debut "Tightrope" - "The Blue Man" album is the cream of the crop here. Fans will love the presentation and audio - and should dive right in...
