B. C.

Another eclectic collection of musics that were popular with the contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Disco, Pop-R&B and Black exploitation Funk-R&B artists with Billy still demanding total commitment and excellence from his collaborators. (They must have loved him. I want to assume that he paid them well.)

A1. "Oh Mendocino" (6:39) with lead vocalist Jim Gilstrap being backed by vocal choir and a full orchestra we get a lively Latin-flavored song that sounds like something from either a Broadway musical or an animated Disney film. (8.875/10)

A2. "Dana" (4:30) a gorgeous little Smooth Jazz tune with some great melody hooks à la BOB JAMES. A solid, very professionally rendered song despite its "lightness." (8.875/10)

A3. "What Is Your Fantasy" (3:32) a full-on funk-R&B tune in the vein of early KOOL & THE GANG, OHIO PLAYERS, EARTH WIND & FIRE, RUFUS, and BETTY DAVIS as well as contemporaries like PARLIAMENT, The ISLEY BROTHERS, and The BROTHERS JOHNSON, with Miki Howard on the lead vocal, a sassy chorus of male background vocalists, and plenty of funk coming from Ed Reddick's bass, Bobby Lyle's clavinet and synthesizer percussion, as well as Michael McGloiry's rhythm guitar, they have all the makings of a very popular, very entertaining song for the BET and other Black entertainment media. (8.875/10)

A4. "A Little Travelin' Music" (4:11) sounding like an excursion through/around the Caribbean. Pianist Bobby Lyle's dynamic play reminds me quite often of the play of more animated Chick Corea. Very dynamic and tight. No doubt Billy had loads of fun on the timbales track. (9.125/10)

B1. "The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)" (6:22) with the male and female grunts and groans mixed over the percussive display over the first minute of this song one would never guess that this was going to turn into a very funky, high speed Disco run through Herb Albert's signature song (from his 1962 debut). And I thought the previous song was all fun and games, this one is like that but on steroids and meth-amphetamines! "A Little Travelin' Muisc" was only Billy's warmup on the timbales! The theatric vocal performances are a little hokey/over-the-top, but it is definitely an impressive display of percussion and horn play. (8.875/10)

B2. "I Don't Want To Be Without You" (4:08) another Latin-infused tune with ultra-funk bass in the form of Nathaniel Phillips slap bass. The horns and orchestration are still cool but the choir of background vocalists is getting a little old. Nice electric piano work from Bobby Lyle. (8.875/10)

B3. "Bring Up The House Lights" (4:26) are we having fun now? The relaxed Black street talk between Billy and George Duke is quite entertaining (they definitely captured one great conversation!), while the funky-smooth sax-led music beneath them. Funny that George is contributing absolutely nothing instrumentally to the song, but the conversation is definitely worth listening to--over and over. As a novelty song I have to admit that this is pretty special. (9/10)

B4. "Vlastar - An Encounter" (7:23) Billy's customary drum solo (there seems to be one on every album). I guess it does provide a kind of historical record of the ideas and techniques Billy encounters and toys around with from year to year. As far as comparing this one to others, I must say that this one is easy to engage with and yet still presents some very impressive and entertaining play. David Yost joins Billy on a synthesizer for the sixth minute and beyond, giving the song a spacey finish like something from a TV or film soundtrack. (14.25/15)

Total Time: 41:11

I truly appreciate and enjoy Billy's trajectory of continuous evolution with its fearless experimentation and amazing ability to masterfully incorporate anything and everything into the aegis of his overwhelmingly high standards of quality. Along with Chick Corea he has become my most respected Fusion artist of all-time. While I might not find myself recommending the songs on this album as easily of quickly as others from other albums (except for "Bring Up the House Lights" and "Vlashtar - An Encounter": people need to hear those two), I will not shirk, myself, from returning to this album for future listens.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of high-quality, very entertaining music that still manages to fall completely under the Jazz-Rock Fusion umbrella.

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