DAVID SANCIOUS

The instrumental music is lively and versatile Fusion with lots of influences from the (British) progressive rock and classical music. Comparisons can be made towards MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA and RETURN TO FOREVER. The nearly 9-minute opener 'Suite Cassandra' (she was David's infatuation and a cousin of Clarence Clemons) is one of the highlights with its sophisticated balancing between melodic tenderness and proggy energy. The second track is tight and funky, and is emphasized on David's electric guitar. Slow-paced 'East India' starts in a very delicate and impressionistic manner and increases Eastern flavour along the way. Very soothing and beautiful composition, which must have sounded too lame in the ears of those who expect fiery Fusion in the Mahavishnu style. I got an association to VANGELIS's China album (1979).

Also 'Dixie', inspired by the civil rights movement in the Southern states, stays in the totally boundary- free area between jazz and rock. I'd like to mention my countrymen PEKKA POHJOLA and JUKKA TOLONEN as equally free-minded Fusion artists. The title track is the second longest (7:49) and guaranteed to please any friend of classically influenced Fusion. Acoustic piano takes the lead role at one point but the track's arrangement is rich. 'Joyce #8' is a brief, romantic composition for solo piano. Fast-tempo 'Crystal Image' is one of the jazziest moments in the album.

Cheerful 'One Time' has lots of funk but also some amazing virtuosity on keyboards. 'Further in the Forest of Feelings' has many time-shifts and has more substance within three minutes than a 7-minute composition might have. Still it doesn't feel too rushed. 'Promise of Light' is another romantic piano piece in the classical style. This album maybe isn't quite an essential masterpiece, but skillful and enjoyable enough for me to round my 4½ stars upwards. Especially as it's relatively little known.

The talent of Sancious is fully displayed in this first work of Tone and his wide influences from Classical Music to Jazz to Progressive Rock result a tight amalgam of sounds, that can only be described as Fusion.His main reference point seems to be a proggier WEATHER REPORT with alternating atmospheres from fiery and professional Fusion to more mellow moments of Jazz Rock.But the album contains also strong Classical-inspired themes and spacey keyboard parts, closer to the Progressive Rock lines.Sancious' work is dominant and impressive, including sharp and adventurous synthesizers blended with extremely inspired piano themes and smoother organ moves, while he also prooves to be an excellent guitarist when needed next also to the talents of Gerald Carboy and Ernest Carter.The faster and more energetic tracks have a strong progressive background, while the more one-dimensional pieces scan the differences between romantic Classical Music and easy-going Jazz.All of them though are well-composed and executed.

I would dare to say that Sancious & Tone should be a guide for all modern Prog/Fusion trios.''Forest of Feelings'' is the greatest proof.Dynamic, passionate still melodic keyboard-based Fusion of high quality.Highly recommended.

This album was his first solo endeavor. And it was produced by the great drummer Billy Cobham (who also plays tympani on a few of the tracks here). The album ranks up there with some of the best of the mid- seventies symphonic fusion greats.

The best tracks are the Mahavishnu-like Suite Cassandra and The Forest Of Feelings. Both of these are complex and lush fusion pieces, with symphonic prog sections driving them along. Another highlight is the two-part Dixie, a minor key warping of the classic song, which descends into some wild electronic experimentation.

It's a shame that Sony has allowed this gem to go out of print, as it should rank high in their fusion catalog.

"Overture" features vocals that come in quickly including some cringe worthy backing vocals.This is really wimpy except for the bass. "1st Movement" opens with vocal melodies followed by drums and organ a minute in. A calm with vocal melodies return then it kicks in once more before we get a steady rhythm with lots of keyboards 3 1/2 minutes in. The tempo shifts often after 6 1/2 minutes. The best part of the song is 11 minutes in.

"2nd Movement" opens with atmosphere before an orchestral-like soundscape takes over. A calm follows then it kicks back in quickly. Best parts are after 2 and 4 minutes. "The Dawn" is laid back with a beat and keyboards leading the way. "3rd Movement" opens with a flury of keyboards and drums then it settles as contrasts continue. "4th Movement" is led by piano throughout. "Finale Part I" has a Middle Eastern vibe with vocals. "Finale Part II" is my favourite tune as it's filled with atmosphere only.

It's difficult to even give 3 stars for this one. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.

I probably like the first track the most. "Piktor's Metamorphosis" contrasts the laid back, chill out mood with the more aggressive keys, bass and drums sections. "Sky Church Hymn #9" opens with drums as this bluesy guitar comes in. Not fan of this. It turns more uptempo though with some ripping guitar (okay i'm impressed) before ending the way it began.

"The Play And Displays Of The Heart" opens with piano and acoustic guitar with the tempo switching back and forth. It's okay. "Transformation (The Speed Of Love)" is the closing side long suite. It kicks in after a minute. Organ 5 minutes in then we get a calm before it kicks back in. Love the bass and drum work. A calm with bells 9 1/2 minutes in and later after 12 minutes before kicking back in 15 1/2 minutes in. Good song but i'm not overy impressed.

I'm in the minority here with my thoughts on this record so a grain of salt is recommended. I think it's good, most think it's great.

"Sky Church Hymn #9" is unusual blues based composition with very energetic guitar in Hendrix-style. Two other side-A compositions contain all main elements of jazz fusion from mid-70-s. David plays attractive keyboards tunes and structures, with some passages , but I like more separate moments, than compositions in whole.

Fourth, longest composition (and side-B of original LP release) is 18+ minutes long jazz fusion suite with vocals (including Gayle Moran). With bigger accents on individual instruments soloing, generally this composition could be compared with RTF works.

Overall, album contains many moments of really high class energetic jazz fusion of its time and demonstrates very competent musicianship. I just missed concept feeling, the music often sounded as great demonstration of some musical pieces, not too much connected between each other. Great musicianship, but after listening you possibly will remember some separate pieces and moments, but hardly all album as whole work.

The activity of David Sancious after it had resigned from E.Street Band that led Bruce Springsteen in 1974 might always have offered the listener the work with high quality in which all Music's genres were exactly covered.

It is necessary to evaluate the talent of David Sancious known by competing with musicians such as Stanley Clarke, Peter Gabriel, and Sting high. It is likely to be able to listen to the work at time when the talent, the sense, and the idea were blocked most remarkably in his work in the 70's.

David Sancious forms "Tone" of own band in 1974. A recent work was time of the creation where his very a variety of element and idea were blocked. David Sancious is indeed well versed for Progressive Rock. Making those element and sound is expressed by the album of the "Tone" name.

David Sancious And Tone dissolves by "True Stories" announced in 1978. However, the desire of the created music enchanted the listener with the revolution in the flow that he announced the album by the name of Solo. The part where Eddy Offord had been appointed as a producer as well as "True Stories" of the former work concretely showed the music that David Sancious exactly created. The flow that the element of Jazz/Fusion and Prog Rock is taken to completion S well taking the sound of symphonic might be a result of bringing forth of the work of Eddy Offord and the creation of David Sancious splendidly. It is refined further, and all good parts might be developed and the creativity cultivated in the work of "Tone" been extracted. And, it is a work that should be able to be called the sound Jazz Rock/Prog Rock completely refined.

"Run" starts in the line of Bass that David Sancious plays. And, the original sound that David Sancious plays twines round the melody of the guitar with a complete sense. The rhythm of Ernest Carter keeps fast Passage and supports the tune. David Sancious plays the guitar well. The sound and has finished ..Jazz-Rock that the quality in which "Bruford" and Allan Holdsworth in the 70's are reminiscent is high... Progressing the tune not to forecast by making good use of fast and slow has a completely progressive flow.

"Just As I Thought" becomes complete piano and the rhythm that intermittently repeats the rhythm of the odd number and advances. The idea of David Sancious accompanies a good fusion of Jazz/Fusion and Prog Rock attended with an original sound. The composition and the flow of piano Chord are also preeminent. A variegated sound makes one space. There are only 30 second of one minute tune. However, creativity is exactly proportional to the album. And, Jeff Berlin takes charge of Bass in this tune.

"Again" might be a tune that gives width as the entire impression of this album. How the creation of David Sancious is not biased to one genre might be understood. Making the keyboard and a piano melody and the sound is splendid though the tune advances around the song. The gentle ballade sung by Kabir Ghani might have had a moving flow. Solo of the keyboard performs moving solo while using a progressive sound. It is a tune with which the part where David Sancious is good is exactly blocked.

As for "The Naked I", the arpeggio of a beautiful, acoustic guitar by Davis Sancious is impressive. The obbligati of the keyboard with the anacatesthesia twines well, too. The part where the tune that fast and slow is put as a composition of the album and the fraction is short is arranged might succeed as one of the senses, too.

"Valley Of The Shadow" is a tune that the element of Prog Rock unites completely in Jazz/Fusion. The tune explodes because of the sound of the keyboard with Spacey's element. A powerful rhythm twines round a beautiful piano melody. The tune reaches the peak at once and shifts to solo of the keyboard. The combination of the sounds of the keyboard is indeed variegated. And, the excitement continues. It returns to the theme again and the guitar twines. This flow will be reminiscent of the element of Bruford in the 70's, too. The part of the negotiation with the keyboard and the guitar might be exactly a highlight of the tune with the tension continued. The technology of David Sancious that surely expresses these ideas is splendid. The composition in which the top is repeated always surely raises this album-quality.

As for "Suite:For The End Of An Age", Spacey's sound twines from the explosion of a free tempo round an intermittent rhythm. The song of Kabir Ghani twines round the rhythm of the rhythm of five. The tune might be very ..Spacey.. Jazz/Fusion/Prog Rock. The tune combines the rhythms of 7 and 5 from complex development and advances in fast Passage. Development is very progressive. In addition, the tune shifts from the development of the rhythm in close relation to the complexity to the piano. The flow of the float in the space suddenly shifts to the rhythm of 12 and rushes into the Spacey part. The tune returns to the first theme and reaches the peak. They will never get tired by the flow.

"Remember" starts by a solemn piano melody. The sense of the melody of David Sancious might be splendid. The tune ..short composition.. has finished with the part of the intro. However, the concept of the album continues.

"And Then She Said" has the start where a progressive keyboard twines round a beautiful piano sound. It might be development where a good element of Jazz/Fusion is included. The sound in which the anacatesthesia is given is made and it becomes intense and advanced development is composed well as an idea. The method of Jazz/Fusion has been exactly taken well. Solo of Bass might be exactly straightening of Jeff Berlin. The composition that returns from solo of Bass to the theme is also splendid.

"Again Part 2" that decorates the end of the album is a sequel of "Again", too. A gentle piano theme touches it with a grand impression. Grand flow by the chorus's introduction. And, a perfect idea and it is technological of David Sancious. They might have completed the album.

The music that he created in the 70's is always acknowledged as a high-quality work. You may take up this album as the compilation. It is ..one by David Sancious exactly- masterpiece.. finished.