CURT CRESS CLAN

The debut album from one of the '70s best drummers is an undemanding but energetic collection of instrumental Jazz-Funk not far removed from the Fusion grooves of PASSPORT, in which Cress was still a member at the time. As with his parent band, the influence of WEATHER REPORT looms large, but here the playing leans more gently on the crutch of virtuosity, opting instead for a simpler, sunny vibe with lots of infectious jamming.

CCC practiced a slightly condensed variation of the classic Passport style, which even at its height (circa "Cross-Collateral", released the same year as this effort) was never very complex. Trade the Space Rock synths and sequencers for common electric pianos and a Hohner Clavinet, eliminate the distinctive Wandrey's Studio cover art, and Passport might have looked something like this, moving gracefully from the strutting '70s funkathons of "From the Back" and the cryptically titled "451271" to the bluesy "Shuffle on Out", arranged in a nimble rhythmic count of fifteen.

The album misses the dynamic saxophone of Passport's main man Klaus Doldinger, but the flugelhorn in the song "Fields" was a nice addition, alongside the more prominent electric guitars (Volker Kriegel was an adept pupil in the John McLaughlin school of performance). The drumming of course is impeccable throughout, played as always with deceptively simple yet sophisticated ease, occasionally giving way to a brief, frenzied storm of pure Fusion pyrotechnics, in the appropriately titled "Cyclone" and later during "Movin' Right Along".

The material may be lightweight, but this is an album that would sit comfortably on a shelf alongside the early solo efforts of BILL BRUFORD, and it's hard to imagine a higher compliment. Three solid stars.

Curt Cless Clan formed around drumer Curt Cless of course is one shot wonder group with only one album released in 1975 selftitled and re issued on CD by Sireena label digipak format in 2010. Well what we have here is a kind of jazz fusion funk almost typical for thet period, no groundbreaking moments, only being the opening track Cyclone who is btw killer, Curt druming on this pieces and of course the rest of the musicicans involved here is top notch. This album released when he was still a Passport member, maybe the music goes towards Passport influnce in places, but to me is little less intrsting the on Passport same period. Anyway some great musicians here, all memebers being in or later one joining good bands from progressive rock/ jazz fusion realm like Volker Kriegel on keyboards, Dave King later on with Snowball, Curt Cress from intialy in Orange Peel and going through Passport to Atlantis, so a bunch of great skilfull musicians, unfortunatly is not enough to be only skilful as individual is needed to work like a unit to come with something special, this album is only ok, not a bad one but sometime is to releaxed and safe jazz fusion. If the rest of the album were sounding like opening track Cyclone then for sure would be much better, that piece kick ass, the rest are only good nothing really impresive moments are present. A forgotten album, maybe with the re issue on CD they will get more attention. 3 stars for this release.

I remember how excited I was when I first heard about this album, especially when I saw the lineup. Curt Cress is probably most well known for being the drummer of PASSPORT, but before that he drummed on ORANGE PEEL's only album released in 1970. So yes an excellent pedigree and the former label boss for PASSPORT Sigi Loch was impressed enough to make it possible for Cress do this solo record. The lineup besides Cress on drums is Volker Kriegel on guitar, Dave King on bass, Ack Van Rooyan on flugelhorn, and Kristian Schultze on keyboards. My enthusiasm became dampened though after reading many opinions around the internet suggesting this was a good but lightweight album. And after many listens I have to agree. Some really good songs here but also some almost cringe-worthy tunes that makes this one a 3.5 star recording for me.

"Cyclone" certainly got my hopes up as Cress shows us why he is such a talented drummer. It's all Cress early on doing it solo then the bass kicks in around 1 1/2 minutes in. So good ! Keyboards around 2 minutes then they stop as the guitar takes a turn while the bass and drums continue. Killer tune. "From The Back" is funky and one tune I have a hard time with. It's not bad though and I like the guitar. "Fields" opens with drums and is more laid back. This is a sweet track with intricate drumming and tasteful flugelhorn. One of favs from this disc. "Shuffle On Out" is a cool track with the guitar and drums standing out. Love the sound of the keyboards before 3 minutes.

"Delphine" is the worst track in my opinion. I just find the melody to be so annoying. "451271" is a funky song. Not bad a but a little repetitive. "No Answer" is a very laid back and mellow tune. I like it. "Movin" Right Along" shows off Cress' drumming skills and the bass is fantastic. Great track. Too short though. "Funk Off" is not a song I can't get into. Too lightweight and the word "annoying" comes to mind.

So a hit and miss affair but if you like the PASSPORT albums "Hand Made" and "Looking Thru" you will probably love this one. I just wish it was more like "Cross-Collateral" that PASSPORT released the same year as this one.

One of the great drummers of the European scene in the 1970s: what Jaki Liebezeit was to the unfailing metronome Curt Cress was to bringing syncopation to the funk. The only "Clan" album to have ever reached daylight, it would take Curt another eight years to try his hand at leadership again.

1. "Cyclone" (3:54) It takes a weird, slow-starting 90-seconds for this one to establish itself but we get it: this is a drummer's album. Nice band cohesion on this PASSPORT-like tune--with a fair amount of complexity and sophistication--and a lot more funk--than I was expecting! Kudos for Volker Kriegel for being able to adapt to and keep up with Curt's drumming (and his ideas). (8.75/10)

2. "From the Back" (4:30) the first of several very mathematically-organized funk songs comes across as a great exercise in individual discipline and whole-band cohesion. (8.875/10)

3. "Fields" (3:46) another tough song for musicians to perform smoothly despite its smooth and melodic guise: this is a tough song for individual musicians to toe the line to (as I hear mistakes from both Dave King and Volker Kriegel happening beneath Ack Van Rooyen's flugelhorn solo). Curt does manage to offer something with some beauty and serenity despite demanding so much of his musicians. (Maybe they all are having a blast playing these "études"?) (9.375/10)

4. "Shuffle On Out" (5:53) built around a blues bass line that Curt jazzifies with some key changes and subtle tempo shifts, giving Volker Kriegel two tracks to provide the lead over the top can be dangerous since he can fly, dance, and take it away, all without you suspecting that you've been hijacked. Interesting keyboard "takeover" in the fourth minute after Kristian's clavinet solo: he re-introduces the bass line before Dave King! Not my favorite song (or style/sound palette) but great work from Curt and the band to just be able to hold it together! (8.75/10)

5. "Delphine" (3:27) mathematical jazz-funk fusion. This is what one might expect from a drummer. And yet there are concerted efforts to present WEATHER REPORT-like melodies. One of the things I notice on this song was the nice combination of drums and percussion given by Curt. (8.875/10)

6. "'451271'" (3:35) another very mathematical arrangement that sounds as if the OHIO PLAYERS were getting into exploring complex time signatures and composed this song as a practice/learning tool. It's actually a pretty cool puzzle Curt has given his players. (8.875/10)

7. "No Answer" (3:46) slowed way down, exploring space in a Soul/R&B kind of way--like something KOOL & THE GANG or BOB JAMES might have done. Once again, when looked at from the perspective of getting good at solving mathematical problems, this one really works! Plus the added discipline needed to perform this flawlessly would be intense! (8.875/10)

8. "Movin' Right Along" (2:45) a funk jam the band must have been grooving to is here salvaged with a long fade in. Interesting construct with its rotating themes being injected by the various instruments while Dave King and Curt keep their heads down and focused. (8.875/10)

9. "Funk Off" (4:59) less funk and more WAR "Low Rider"-like rhythm and simple melody-making than I expected from that title! Interesting end to a very interesting album! (8.75/10)

Total Time 36:35

I have to admit that the music on CCC is far funkier than I would have ever expected from European white boys! There is a goodly amount of funk and syncopation but an odd lack of sophistication, a lack of "full" development on many of the songs. It's almost as if Curt contrived most of these rhythmically-challenging songs as a kind of test to his hired guns--as if confronting them with the task of successfully pulling off "competent" performances without embarrassing themselves. This makes me wonder how much tension the musicians felt during these studio practice and recording sessions; I can imagine a lot!

B+/4.5 stars; a strong display of whole band commitment to some challenging ideas and compositions--a near- masterpiece of funky Jazz-Rock Fusion. For the most part, I think they come through fairly shining. What might suffer a bit is the feeling of a lack of complete or "full" development on many of the song/études.