The Fusion Reactor #132 - Snowed In!

This week I was (still) at my parents house, dog- and house-sitting while they're away someplace warm. Due to a huge amount of snowfall, with the added bonus of freezing rain and "wintry mix" on top of it, I couldn't get to my place (about 15 miles away) to do the show. Due to internet craziness, I couldn't get it done remotely. I just opened up an email to send to everyone to say I couldn't do it this week, when... Eureka! I can broadcast from my computer, which is here with me at my parents' house. Don't leave home without it, folks.

So here it is. A plethora of fusion tunes with a few proggy numbers thrown in for some added kick. Kinda like these fiery habanero Doritos I'm eating right now.

Miles Davis - Zimbabwe (41:47)
More live Miles to start things off, this one from the "Pangaea album. And it's a long one, to be sure. Miles and his band played their heads off that day, this being part of the second set they did that day (the first being the album "Agharta."

Bill Bruford - The Sahara of Snow, Parts 1 & 2 (8:43)
From the one of a kind "One Of A Kind" album. Very different from the Bruford I played last week, which was his Earthworks band. This is his 70's fusion band, featuring Jeff Berlin on bass and Allan Holdsworth on guitar. Excellent stuff.

Umphrey's McGee - Headphones and Snowcones (2:27)
Kind of an odd tune from Umphrey's McGee. It's nestled in there on the "Local Band Does OK" album, right in there with those intense prog tunes and jambandy jams. This one is pure fusion delight though. The double guitar attack gives way to trumpets and harmonies, and the classical keyboard is replaced by vibes.

Frost* - Snowman (3:55)
Ya know, I haven't really built a snowman in years. Not even thrown a snowball. Something must be wrong with me. Wait, I did make a replica of the planet Jupiter out of snow a few weeks ago. Long story. Anyhow, here's Frost* with one of the poppier tunes from their "Milliontown" album.

Chick Corea Electric Band - Make a Wish, Parts 1 and 2 (7:59)
Chick's "Inside Out" album has some really cool stuff on it, and this would be one of the best, in my opinion. It's one of those fusion songs that feels like an adventure. Much of Chick's music feels like that to me. I'm taking the band's advice here and wishing for warmer weather. And less percipitation. And a cure for disease, while I'm at it. More on Chick later, in a different band. Maybe you can guess which one that will be...

Stanley Clarke - Hot Fun (2:55)
I like to think of the "School Days" album as a concept album - not sure if that was Stanley's intention or not. But anyhow, this is like recess on one of those sunny days just before school lets out. Summer's ahead, in fact you can feel it on your skin now. School's not done yet, but it's great weather to run around on the playground with some friends.

Rare Blend - Cool Days Hot Nights (5:29)
From the "Infinity" album... This one almost sounds like it's done in the tropics. Or am I just forcing my wishful imaginings on it?

Panta Rhei - Tropical Fever (3:11)
Panta Rhei went through a lot of different styles, from ELP-style neoclassicism to Tangerine Dream-y electronica. This, the Epilogus album, was pretty fusiony, as is evidenced by this track.

McLaughlin, DiMeola & DeLucia - Midsummer Night (4:37)
The three guitarists never cease to amaze me with their pleasing acoustic jazz prowess. If they weren't so amazing, it would be awfully pretentious of them to call themselves - and this album - "The Guitar Trio." But they are. Those Californians are quite good as well, but personally I'd rather listen to these guys. The compositions and the improvisation are excellent.

Machine and the Synergetic Nuts - Texas (5:13)
And on a completely different note... MSN is an amazing and inventive band from Japan. Their "Leap Second Neutral" album should come with a warning for those on heart medication. It's pretty relentless. You simply need to hear it. Love the 'stop-start' thing they keep doing in this one. I can't imagine dozing off during a song like this.

Forever Einstein - Big Sky Mind (4:32)
I was listening to this in the car the other day, and I decided it needed to be on this week's show. It's so quirky and fun. The whole "One Thing After Another" album is like that, along with everything I've heard in their catalog. Listen for the Mahavishnu Orchestra quote in the middle. I do believe I laughed out loud when I heard that the first time.

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Meeting of the Spirits (6:53)
The song quoted in the above song. It's from their debut album "The Inner Mounting Flame" and it's the first track, so it's like their way of saying "Hello world! This is the Mahavishnu Orchestra!" And what a statement it makes. Thirty-six years later, it's still capable of stopping conversations and pinning ears back all over the world.

Return To Forever - Sorceress (7:33)
RTF did a bunch of excellent albums, but I think 1976's "Romantic Warrior" album is the best. Again, I hear it as a concept album, sort of a fusion companion-piece to Rick Wakeman's "Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" but with a much shorter name. At this point in their career I definitely feel that it became less of a Chick Corea thing and more of a group effort. That's how it feels to me, anyway. Here's one of the more laid-back - but still quite exciting - pieces from that album.

Tripod - Fuzz (6:57)
Pocket fuzz? Peach fuzz? Facial Hair? Distortion? What is this song about? It's one of those things that makes my parents' dog cock his head to the side as if to say "Huh? You're weird." Most bass/sax/drums bands sound similar to this. Morphine was a bit more accessible though, I'd say. See, you thought I was gonna say this was the only one. Hey, don't worry about it - accessibility isn't everything.

The Tony Williams Lifetime - Snake Oil (6:30)
Tony and the crew finish things off with some funky stuff. The "Believe It" album is my favorite from the TWL. The fact that it's all instrumental probably plays a significant part in that. Allan Holdsworth definitely does. Personally, I think the song sounds more like a snake than snake oil, but nobody really asked my opinion, did they? But I'm not bitter about it or anything.

So maybe this show was a brief island of sunshine and warmth in your winter. That was the plan, anyhow. I hope you liked it.