Reviewed by James Tweed

Nine years ago in a press conference following their barnstorming live UK debut at Greenbelt, keyboardist Harlan Rogers of the American Jazz sextet vehemently denied rumours that the band was breaking up. Months later they did, with their final legacy an eponymously-titled platter on a Scandinavian label for Europe-only release. This 67-minute, 13-track compilation, which draws heavily from their 1984 live recording 'Celebration', has just been re-released by Word after seven years but includes no new information or additional tracks. On paper this band of LA session men fronted by bassist Abraham Labouriel read like a new Weather Report or Crusaders, with whom individual members have played, but on studio tracks like "Frontline", which bears more than a passing resemblance to "Eye Of The Tiger", they sound more like Toto. The mid-1980's obsession with gated drums is to the fore on tracks such as "Gazoot", and it takes a delightful song like "Señor" to highlight the group's Latin American roots. Undoubtedly captured best live - check out "Celebration" for quality musicianship par excellence - this is a fair representation of the band, but quit why the re-release I don't understand, for it is only likely to appeal to the already converted who will have it already.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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