Michal Urbaniak-Fusion III

Michal Urbaniak's famous Fusion trilogy came to an end with his third recording for Columbia Records, “Fusion III” released in 1975. In a way it solidified Urbaniak’s sound combining his high-flying electrified and modified violin, his wife, Urszula Dudziak’s wide-range vocals and sound effects with compositions influenced by Eastern European ethnic music patterns and melodies. This time all these elements receive an amazing funkified dose of musicianship from Urbaniak’s American counterparts as the original Polish line-up has been replaced by an amazing cast of New York musicians who stretch even further Urbaniak’s boundaries into improvisation and rhythmic accompaniment. Personnel are Urbaniak on violin and violin synthesizer, Urszula Dudziak on vocals, percussion and synthesizer, Wlodek Gulgowski on piano, organ and moog, the funkified rhythm section of Anthony Jackson on bass and Steve Gadd on drums replaced by Gerry Brown on “Bloody Kishka” and “Roksana”, Bernard Kafka on voice on “Stretch” and the amazing guitars and solos of John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell and Joe Caro who add a twist to Urbaniak’s Fusion sound, which never incorporated guitars before. Probably frustrated awaiting for Sony/Columbia to reissue it, this fusion gem has been reissued by the artist himself on his label UBX by re-mastering it from vinyl. The album as sold on iTunes is also by UBX but I have no way of knowing if it is taken vrom vinyl. Wounded Bird Records did issue it on CD and it is from the original tape (see it on Amazon). Regardless of which one you choose, it's worth it!!

Track Listing:

1. Chinatown, Pt. 1

2. Kuyaviak Goes Funky

3. Roksana

4. Crazy Kid

5. Prehistoric Bird (sampled above)

6. Bloody Kishka

7. Cameo

8. Stretch

9. Metroliner

10. Chinatown, Pt. 2

Buy it at CD Baby or Amazon or

Stardrive - Intergalactic Trot

Stardrive's Intergalactic Trot (with Robert Mason) first album released in 1973 is a significant contribution to the development of the synthesizer as a fulyl devoted instrument. At the time this album was recorded all synthesizers were only capable of playing only one or two notes at the time. As stated on the liner notes “Using a few pre-constructed parts plus a lot of custom-designed electronic gear and great ingenuity, Robert Mason has built the world’s first multi-voiced synthesizer that can be played like a real keyboard instrument with full chords and tonal clusters. All the music on this album was performed live on the Stardrive synthesizer, thus accounting for the unprecedented fullness and spontaneity of the electronic sound.” Although the compositions and covers are not as appealing this is a curiosity item worth having. Personnel are keyboardist Robert Mason, Michael Brecker on saxophones, Steve Gadd on drums, Harvey Sarch on guitar, Jaime Austria on bass and Bruce Ditmas on percussion. Originally issued in 1973, it is now making its worldwide CD debut thanks to Wounded Bird Records.

Track Listing:

1. Rushes (sampled above)

2. Strawberry Fields Forever
3. Stardrive
4. Dr. Tandem
5. Want To Take You Higher
6. Everything at Once
7. Intergalactic Trot

Buy it at Wounded Bird Records or Amazon Intergalactic Trot

Michel Colombier - Michel Colombier

Recorded back in 1979, this amazing album is a remarkable achievement of beauty, force, passion and Fusion. The late bassist Jaco Pastorius plays as soloist with incomparable sensitivity on the tracks “Dreamland” and “Birdsong”. Also featured are Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour on guitar, Peter Erskine and Steve Gadd on drums, Herbie Hancock on keyboards, Tom Scott and Michael Brecker on sax, Airto Moreira on percussion and the London Symphony Orchestra. Bravo, the CD has been reissued again and it is available at Audiophile Imports.

Track listing:

1. Sunday

2. Take Me Down

3. Dreamland (sampled above)

4. Queens Road

5. Overture

6. Bird Song

7. Layas

8. Do It

9. Spring

10. The Dancing Bull

11. Autumn Land

Buy it a Audiophile Imports