SPACES REVISITED

As always when an artiste openly revisits one of his early classic, there are a few precautions to be taken. Beit Olfield's 256 's Tubular Bells or JM Jarre's Oxygene reworks, you just know it is a financial coup that rarely goes fiasco (financially at least). So exactly what was In LC's mind when trying this stunt? No McL, Corea or Vitous, and with only an ageing Cobham in tow, this sounded like anteing up an entire empire on the poker table with only a pair of kings in hand. Even if McL is replaced by the promising new talent Birelli Lagrene (from South Africa), the line-up lacks the fire and power of the original quintet star-studded line- up.

So, 30 almost years after its original release, Spaces, "the return" sees the light of day, but it quickly strays from the original spirit of the album. Apart from the title track, there are no covers of the original 69 version, and even Spaces Revisited is not a true cover per se, but at least it has some musical links. If Dragon Gate, the charming Morning Of The Carnival, the title track and to a lesser extent the Pork Pie Hat variation are interesting, one can't say the same for HK Breeze, Oleo and the Ruby dual track.

Pretty well a straight jazz album, SR is probably suffering from its misleading title, and might even suffer the ire of those being mislead, but in fine, this album is good cool/lounge jazz album, but certainly nothing to bowl you over and pick up a pen and paper to write home about it.