ELECTRIC CONNECTION

Still plenty early in the career of this soon-to-be Fusion pioneer, Electric Connection is a light-Fusion album, more or less Mr. Ponty's fourth studio solo release. Most notable, I would say, is the featuring of the late, great George Duke on piano, and, Duke being the bridge between Ponty and Frank Zappa (with whom George played; in Frank's mid-70s Fusion band), Hot Rats drummer Paul Humphrey is also present. The year is 1969 and these guys kept busy.

"Summit Soul" is a quick-to-the-punch opener, with a great theme. Awesome guitar solo up front by Wilbert Longmire before Jean-Luc's own. With this fuller ensemble of musicians, in particular horns, there are elements here reminiscent to contemporaries Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears (I realize I talk about them a lot, but to me, they are early Jazz Rock). On "Hypomode De Sol", we enter into the Blues, a cool, smooth track. This band was hot. And I'm a huge fan of Jean-Luc, and his solo here is wonderful. Midway, they pick up the pace all, set to a blaze. The violin is in wonderful contrast to the sharp stabs from the horns. Up next, the ensemble covers the Simon & Garfunkel rendition of "Scarborough Fair" (with "Canticle"). Very lovely; more than cool to hear Folk-Jazz or whatever you might call this.

Up next, we have "The Name Of The Game", which honestly enough sounds at first like some TV theme song. But once they get rolling, we are truly in it. Great track, fairly straight ahead, but it gets real good with the sax solo. Definitely a moment I wish I could give specific credit (it's either Richard Aplar on baritone or Bud Shank on alto). To go back to the Zappa connection, it sort of reminded me of the distinct muted sax solos performed by Bunk Gardner of the Mothers. Enter cool swing with me on "The Loner". Delicious, and now that I'm thinking on it very of the decade, something distinctly '60s about its vibe. The intro though is something else... I assume just heavy, heavy reverb used on the violin. A very cool effect, especially for the time. This one is certainly straight-ahead, but will appeal to fans of the 'purer' stuff. 'Jazz', is it?

Ponty & Co. really capture a special sweetness on "Waltz For Clara", another swingin' number with Post-Bop arrangement. George Duke's piano is interposed between Jean-Luc's viol soloing and the rhythm section, featuring occasioned soft stabbings from the horns. There is a very warm and easily-approached quality from the production throughout this album, but this is a great number to showcase that. And then, a flute solo from Tony Ortega! Followed by a wonderfully free solo from Duke. Sweetness shifts into melancholy on the understated, balladic "Forget". Beautiful reprieve before our closer, "Eighty-One". And a helluva vibe on this one. Super cool, with a fantastic groove. Very of-the-time horny sections here. Another moment for drummer Paul Humphrey to shine. And one last heavy-chops solo from George. Awesome.

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