LARRY CORYELL, STEVE SMITH & TOM COSTER: CAUSE AND EFFECT

4.5 stars. The closer "Wes And Jimi" is named after two of the greatest guitarists in the Jazz and Rock worlds and this entire album honours both of those styles of music. This is the heaviest record that I've heard Coryell on and he is a big reason for this with his powerful playing at times. He also hits us with that jazzy, fast paced picking. There really is two sides to this album and while I prefer the Rock style, as long as Steve Smith is the drummer here I'm happy. Maybe the best I've ever heard him.

"Cause And Effect" was released in 1998 not exactly a banner year for my music so here's one of the best from then. Tom Coster completes the trio on keyboards, of course having a couple of stints playing with SANTANA and playing electric piano on that "Caravanserai" album. Victor Wooten plays bass on the opener here while Benny Rietveld plays bass on three other tracks. There really should have been a bass player as part of this band since my top four tracks are the ones with the bass on them. Still what a pleasure this has been, even the more traditional sounding jazz/fusion tunes blow me away by the incredible instrumental work by all.

Besides the closer which is my fourth favourite, I have to go with the opener with Wooten on it, as well as the next track "Plankton" which is quite heavy, all with bass. The best one though might be "Night Visitors" and it's revisited later on, it that's good with "Night Visitors Revisited" a short 2 plus minute version. Smith is all over this and I just can't say enough about how he changes things up playing in these different styles and all the while sounding perfect. Coster by the way is playing mostly electric piano, organ and electronics here. Not my favourite keyboardist by a long shot but these three guys did great here. Sound quality couldn't be better.

A special album that is the best from both worlds. These guys brought it and left it. This record has been on the cusp of being added to my Jazz and related since I did the list, time to finally add it.