87

A relatively long album of Gramond's, in his typical jazz fusion style. A real issue I've had with much of S'bastien Gramond's jazz rock jam albums is that they often feel fairly listless; never having much of a structure or coherence to them and instead going down the route of endless improvisations. '87' is a fairly well-played album like many of Gramond's jazz albums, and even has a few moments where he makes use of experimental electronics. As a rule though, the album does tend to get bogged down by endless variations on what feels like a single trick.

What is heard here is a very lounge-based style throughout the majority of the record, making ample use of laid-back organs and keyboards to make up most of the jams here. Overall, S'bastien Gramond makes himself out to be a fairly accomplished improvising musician, getting some nice playing going in parts, particularly in the second track 'I Stole Your Groove'. However, with '87' sporting up to eighteen minute long jams here, it will be sure to wear thin on even the most patient of listeners. Truly, there is very little here throughout the majority that feels as if it has any individual identity from the rest of Gramond's jam jazz albums.

One thing that did stand out was Gramond's use of experimental electronics towards the end of the closer 'Far Beyond Reason And Sanity', which sounds as improvised and listless as the rest of the record, but still holds a bit more attention than the rest of the album. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to recommend this album to a prospective listener, despite it being a well- played album.