BIRÉLI LAGRÈNE - Inferno (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless)

 

Fans of guitarist Bireli Lagrene's early work probably will not care for this often passionate CD. Lagrene, who had switched from swing to fusion a few years earlier (and from acoustic guitar to electric), mostly roars throughout seven of his originals (plus Django Reinhardt's "Incertitude"), jamming with tenor saxophonist Bill Evans, keyboardist Clifford Carter, electric bassist Victor Bailey, percussionist Café and one of four drummers. The music is well-played but not all that memorable; none of the original themes were destined to catch on. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1    Inferno 6:04
Written-By – B. Lagrene
2    Rue De Pierre, Part Two 3:55
Written-By – B. Lagrene
3    Action 4:00
Written-By – B. Lagrene
4    Rock It 5:07
Written-By – B. Lagrene
5    Incertitude 6:38
Written-By – Babik Reinhart
6    Berga 4:07
Written-By – B. Lagrene
7    Ballade 6:11
Written-By – B. Lagrene
8    Hips 3:10
Written-By – B. Lagrene
Credits:
Arranged By – Bireli Lagrene, Steve Khan
Drums – Bernard Purdie (tracks: 4, 8), Danny Gottlieb (tracks: 7), Dave Weckl (tracks: 3, 5, 6), Pierre Moerlen (tracks: 1)
Electric Bass – Victor Bailey
Guitar – Bireli Lagrene
Keyboards – Clifford Carter
Percussion – Cafe
Producer – Christine Martin, Steve Khan
Tenor Saxophone – Bill Evans 

MICHAEL BRECKER - Now You See It... (Now You Don't) (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For Now You See It..., Michael Brecker's third recording as a leader, the tenor great used different personnel on most of the selections but played consistently well. Jim Beard's synthesizers were utilized for atmosphere, to set up a funky groove, or to provide a backdrop for the leader. Some of the music sounds like updated John Coltrane (Joey Calderazzo's McCoy Tyner-influenced piano helps), while other pieces could almost pass for Weather Report, if Wayne Shorter rather than Joe Zawinul had been the lead voice. Most of the originals (either by Brecker, Beard, or producer Don Grolnick) project moods rather than feature strong melodies, but Michael Brecker's often-raging tenor makes the most of each opportunity. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Escher Sketch (A Tale Of Two Rhythms) 5:23
Written-By – Michael Brecker
2 Minsk 9:03
Written-By – Don Grolnick
3 Ode To The Doo Da Day 5:51
Written-By – Jim Beard
4 Never Alone 5:35
Written-By – Michael Brecker
5 Peep 7:25
Written-By – Michael Brecker
6 Dogs In The Wine Shop 6:33
Written-By – Don Grolnick
7 Quiet City 6:04
Written-By – Jim Beard
8 The Meaning Of The Blues 5:57
Written-By – Bobbie Troup, Leah Worth
Credits:
Bass, Acoustic Bass – Jay Anderson (tracks: 5, 8)
Bass, Electric Bass – Victor Bailey (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Drums – Omar Hakim (tracks: 4, 7)
Drums, Cymbal [Crash Cymbal] – Adam Nussbaum (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 8)
Guitar – Jon Herington (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5)
Percussion – Don Alias (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7), Milton Cardona (tracks: 6), Steve Berrios (tracks: 6)
Piano – Joey Calderazzo (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 8)
Producer – Don Grolnick
Programmed By [Synthesizer Programming] – Jason Miles (tracks: 1)
Synthesizer, Keyboards – Jim Beard (tracks: 1 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument [Akai EWI], Keyboards, Drum Programming – Michael Brecker