GAMALON

This album cooks! One of the few fairly modern jazz/rock fusion albums that deserves a 5 star rating. Gamalon probably needed a better record label or promotion, I'm not sure which. They certainly do not deserve obscurity. All instrumental with memorable melodies. Points of reference would be Gongzilla (without the vibes), Bon, Dixie Dregs(without the country influence) and early Level 42(the instrumentals). Just a great collective offering. Everyone plays with passion and finesse. A drummer's delight, a bassist's delight and especially highly recommended for guitarists. I'm not sure which guitarist is the soloist, but I must mention both George Puleo and Bruce Brucato. Great chops. Check out their video here at progarchives.com. Serious business. Can hold their own with the greats such as Holdsworth and Morse. I've noticed several used CD copies on amazon.com for no more than $6. Get it while you can because it'll be an obscure one to find after you read this. First come first served. A must for any fusion fanatic. Get it for the opener _Billy's Saloon_ and _Cabin Fever_ alone. Also worth mentioning as a GAMALON reference is Ozric Tentacles without the spacey keyboards.

Gamalon evolved from the 70's Progressive Rock group Rodan out of Buffalo, New York, where drummer Ted Reinhardt, his brother Tom and guitarist Bruce Brucato played together.The group took shape in 1982 and later it saw the addition of guitarist George Puleo and pianist Tom Schuman.Already veterans of the Prog/Fusion, the experienced Gamalon recorded their self-titled debut at Select Sound Studios in Kenmore, New York and the album was released in 1987 on New York-based Amhers label in the triple format of vinyl, CD and cassette issues.

Gamalon proposed an energetic guitar-driven Prog/Fusion, which can be both atmospheric and virtuosic, always led by the twin guitar exercises of the Reinhardt/Puleo duo.With plenty of solos and dynamic changes, ''Gamalon'' is an album based on a typical 80's slick production and a solid bassist, somewhat like a cross between compatriots HELMET OF GNATS and Canadians UZEB, bordering often to the Power Rock sound of RUSH, always with a Fusion edge.The couple of tracks, that feature the presence of Tom Schuman, are propably the ones closer to Jazz/Jazz Rock due to his elegant jazzy piano lines.The rest of the album has evident funky references in the bass lines, which spoil a bit the image of the group, especially if combined with the production level, but the guitar exercises and multiple breaks of the album are the best proofs of a good and talented group, that performs music with passion and technical efficiency.The alternations between the rhythm and solo electric guitars offer some nice highlights, while the drumming of Gamalon's brain Ted Reinhardt sounds confident and at moments impressive.

Not a monumental release, but ''Gamalon'' is among the good album of the Jazz/Fusion field during the 80's, as the style was suffering from plenty of inconsistent and flat releases around the time.Recommended.

I was surprised that these guys are from Buffalo the closest American city to where I am being north of Toronto. This is their debut from 1987 a bleak time for adventerous music that lasted into the early 90's. An interesting lineup as we get two guitarists, drums and bass along with piano on two tracks. This album smokes!

Top three tunes would include the opener "Billy's Salon" which is catchy and uptempo with guitar over the bass and drums. The two guitarists trade off after 3 minutes, pretty cool. It settles as the drumming impresses after 4 minutes then it kicks back in. "Ooh...Babe" is a beautiful song with the laid back guitar soaring. Just gorgeous and the guitar will start to light it up before 3 minutes. I'm not as big a fan of "The King" or "Black Licorice" for the guitar style more than anything as they are quite jazzy here. "Cabin #14" is my other top three. Solid drumming and great sounding bass lines but I love that guitar playing over top. Heavy guitar around 1 1/2 minutes as they amp it up. The guitar is lighting it up before 4 minutes. Drums then become the focus for about a minute then the guitar returns. The closer is interesting as it's all the drummer yet it almost sounds electronic.

A pleasant surprise given the year it was released, the only other Jazz album I like from this year is David Torn's "Cloud About Mercury".