PASSION, GRACE & FIRE

Somehow passed over and nearly forgotten, languishing in the shadow of the too-famous Friday Night in San Francisco set, is this great album from the guitar hero team. The immediacy of that first release is still here but this session benefits from the quiet calm of the studio and less chance for the these luminaries to get caught up in showmanship. Rather, a proper selection of music is heard and the delicate balance the three achieve between jazz spontaneity, Spanish heat, and the precision of Latin fusion is more clearly rendered than on the beloved but somewhat cold 'Friday Night'. And the music is better, too, if only from lack of exposure.

Each player penned two of the six tracks and Paco's gypsy fire anchors 'Aspan', a McLaughlin piece that certainly represents the passion of this triad. Di Meola's grace follows on 'Orient Blue Suite' Pts. 1,2, & 3, a swim through warm waters with careful balancing between each man's six strings, changes of mood and much South American beauty. And the gut-strung fire of De Lucia's 'Chiquito' haunts, full of Andalusian delights, great riff-trading, and extends into the light and lovely 'Sichia'. McLaughlin's lament 'David' takes its time with a little jazz and is packed with great stuff, and Di Meola's title cut is one of the highlights sure to please acoustic guitar fanciers everywhere.

The best (and best sounding) of their releases, nary a bad moment is had on Passion, Grace & Fire and it remains the one to get from this trio.