I bought this album on LP in early 1971, and it has proven to be an interesting document in the history of Jazz/Rock. A reflection of the open minded musical attitude that existed at the time, Dreams takes the sophisticated and more loosely structured horn charts and solos of Jazz and places them over a rock oriented rhythm section. The results are always listenable, never boring, and often surprising. All of the pieces contain musical subtleties that make this recording special. Certainly, many of the ideas expressed here were well above those expressed by Chicago and BS&T, yet the music is just as accessible.
The individual musicians were just beginning to stylistically assert themselves at the time. John Abercrombie's brief but eclectic guitar breaks (Devil Lady, for instance) are a hint of what was to come in his own later recordings on ECM, and Randy Brecker's trumpet and fleuglehorn fills embellish pieces like Holli be Home and 15 Miles To Provo very nicely. Billy Cobham shows his powerful style on the drum kit (however restrained) that caught the attention of John Mclaughlin and later led to his gig with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Please Note:
It has been my experience over the years that those who listen to jazz exclusively do not really enjoy this recording, but those who listen to both Rock and Jazz enjoy it immensely. Dreams was the best expression of Jazz/Rock in the pre-fusion era here in the States. (IF was doing quite well in this regard on the British end.) As such, it is a fine document of the Jazz/Rock scene circa 1970, and one that remains, after all of these years, a favorite in my collection. (By "jazzmanblue" (New York City, USA) (amazon.com)
trax:
01 Devil Lady 02 15 Miles To Provo 03 The Maryanne 04 Holli Be Home 05 Try Me 06 Dream Suite (Asset Stop-Jane-Crunchy Grenola) 07 New York
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4 comments:
Dreams "Dreams"
...served by Magic Kaic's Music...
gitit! no pw
http://www44.zippyshare.com/v/92791337/file.html
Thank you Magic Kaic. What a roster of musicians!
Thanks for posting this classic "horn rock" album. Nevertheless a very disappointing album considering the caliber of the musicians involved.
I must agree with boogieman. "Way back then," I thought the record was really hot stuff. Decades later, though, it really hasn't worn well. And the follow-up, "Imagine My Surprise," even less so.
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