OPEN (WITH JULIE DRISCOLL)

This is very fine album and for 1967 it is superb. It's important link in the evolution of jazz rock. I'm not an expert but there were not many bands pushing the rock part so upfront while not loosing their jazz credentials at the time.They even throw some psychedelic percussion/flute improvisations for a good measure. Graham Bond Organisation comes to mind as another example. There were many brass rock bands created soon enough but Auger/Driscoll album predates almost all of them and surely is not worst. Brass section is excellent as is the rest. Other important parts of the sound are piano/hammond and the expressive vocals by Driscoll and Auger himself. Driscoll voice often brings comparisions with Janis, and quite rightly but it reminds me Maggie Bell from Stone The Crows even more. This album is a bit dated at times but still highly enjoyable and it remains one of the crucial moments in brass/jazz rock history. Four stars.