NORTHERN SONG

Far more daring than his earlier works, "Northern Songs", is less Jazz/Fusion (thank the Gods) and more "Ambiental" to call it somehow. His compositions and performance, open up a new stage of direction, and the result as such, is not a "Jazz/Fusion" follower's dream.

That, I suppose, explains the poor ratings given, in comparisson to his more conventional "modern" Jazz works. To set it simply, there are no Fusion-like songs. This project could fit in more comfortably in the "crossover" genre, being that its roads travel far away from the "Latin/African/Indo" route, that most of the "Jazz/Fusion" people, usually cover.

This record, in fact holds that "unique" quality, which will happen later in future works. So, I suppose that standing in the shelf of "Jazz/Fusion/Prog", demerits the whole project. Not because there is something wrong with that genre, but because this effort, is not a Jazz/Rock sounding record. And in the Steve Tibbetts's discography up to that year, this is the project that breaks away fom that specific tagging. A turning point, in fact!

Daring, unique, excellent guitar playing and arrangements, and a very solid and un-repeatable display of very good acoustic guitar based songs. In my collection this project has been around since my first listening way back in time, and up to today, I find it to be a real delight. Therefore, something I will highly recommend.

****4 "essential" PA stars for any kind of Prog audiophile.