OUT OF THE WOODS

One of the most elegant and smooth jazz albums i ever hered

Oregon jazz band from USA, created a very unique album in my opinion with a lots of unusual instruments for this kind of music, like Sitar, Tabla, Flugelhorn and Oboe and give a new dimension to the jazz music. Of course there are traditional instruments like giutar or bass, but without drums, only persussions. So, the music is quite calm, but very complex in places, you don't have to play 100 notes per second like Mahavishnu Orchestra, you don't have to had latino or flamenco passages like DiMeola, you don't have to had violins combined with country music like Dixie Dregs to leave something at the highest quality, that doesn't mean i minimalize the bands i mention before, far for me the thought. Despite the calm orentation of the band they are really skillfull and not many quite understand this kind of jazz, ypu have to had a good background to appreciate the quality of this record as this album deserve. I really appreciate this album to the maximum. 5 stars to this treasure of jazz music. It's like a journy to another realm to me. P.S. - Absolute fabulous cover, that describes everything is inside the album. Best tracks all, but one of them is superb Cane Fields.

I've been listening to this for about a week and I never considered that this was a Jazz album, shows how much I know. This is a very acoustic album with a World music vibe. Lots of aboe with sitar, tablas and percussion giving it that World Music flavour. Plenty of acoustic guitar and piano as well. This is very elegant and pleasant, i'm just not big on acoustic music. My friend b olariu has given this 5 stars and I would feel the same way if I was rating and reviewing this objectively, but I don't review that way. I have to like it. This just isn't my kind of music no matter how good it is.

"Yellow Bell" is led by the aboe as bass, percussion and piano support. Piano takes the lead for a minute then the aboe returns. "Fall 77" is led by horns and is a mixture of Jazz and World music. "Reprise" features piano melodies only. "Cane Fields" is a percussion and aboe dominated track. "Dance To The Morning Star" has this odd sounding intro and outro. Acoustic guitar, bass, piano and other sounds come in between, then the aboe leads.

"Vision Of A Dancer" features aboe and sitar early then piano takes over. "Story Telling" is a short precussion tune. "Waterwheel" features more percussion and aboe leading the way. "Witchi- Tai-To" is sitar led early. It settles after 3 minutes with acoustic guitar, bass, percussion and other sounds. Aboe comes in.

For most OREGON fans this is their favourite. It's a beautiful recording no doubt about it. 3.5 stars.

This is the edition issued on 1978, instead the re-mastered version dated 1995 of course is the best one, regarding of such an interesting chamber jazz, fusion-tinged...in fact the orchestrations- by means of the woodwind- are enhanced in a remarkable manner and in particular the job performed by Paul McCandless at the bass clarinet and the horn too! Moreover I've re-discovered such a good Collin Walcott's skill, after his departure from the Oregon ensemble in the course of 1984...after that event the ensemble won't be the same anymore...but coming back to the present issue, despite being not suspenseful (like in a few true progressive works nowadays and something more in the seventies, I mean), it's stunning. Otherwise- actually- the music of Oregon is intelligent fusion and nothing else, but you can find some fine music breaks-through inside and this feature alone could be enough to judge the album as well worth checking out, at least!! At the end nevermind if their music is an hybrid genre, in the middle between the chamber jazz and a kind of world music, cause in its particular style is unique!!

So my evaluation is "4 stars" inside a collection of experimental acoustic jazz..."3 stars" in a normal prog collection, especially if this "Out of the woods" is judged by a "prog purist".

Part of Paul Winter's Consort continue flying on their own without their sixth studio album release since 1971. The band's acoustic direction of Jazz-Rock Fusion continues to preview an entire movement of what will become known as World Music or World Fusion.

1. "Yellow Bell" (7:03) Ralph Towner playing some beautiful piano with Glen Moore's simple yet double bass accompaniment supports Paul McCandless on some beautiful oboe play while Colin Walcott supports on congas and cymbals. Gorgeous melodies make for quite a beautiful and introspective listening experience. There is quite a little Chick Corea feel to the melody lines created throughout this piece. (13.5/15) 2. "Fall 77" (4:27) a song that insists on sounding like the introductory motif to WEATHER REPORT's massive hit, "Birdland." (8.75/10)

3. "Reprise" (1:02) a little bluesy jazz piano solo from Ralph. (4.375/5)

4. "Cane Fields" (4:37) Colin Walcott's tabla with Paul's Cor Anglais are supported by Ralph's 12-string guitar chords and Glen's interesting bass note choices. (8.75/10)

5. "Dance To The Morning Star" (5:36) Colin on kalimba with Glen's rhythmic bass propelling the song forward so that Paul's oboe and Ralph's Django/banjo-like guitar can solo, the former more melodically while the latter is more in line with Glen's and now-Colin's galloping and gallumphing. Interesting. (8.75/10)

6. "Vision Of A Dancer" (4:03) sitar and cor anglais are acompanied by melodic Scott-LaFaro-like bass with Ralph's Chick Corea-like piano. A shining, crystalline example of the direction John McLaughlin has turned at the same time as these guys. (8.875/10)

7. "Story Telling" (1:03) Colin's Indian percussion solo.

8. "Waterwheel" (6:27) opening like a classical music guitar piece, tabla, sitar, and droning bowed bass join in before Pau McCandless' oboe enters to supply the exotic lead. Hypnotic and beautiful, the music takes a little detour at the end of the second minute before coming back to full Christmas weave for Paul and Ralph's now this is what one has to call East-West World Fusion! (9/10)

9. "Witchi-Tai-To" (8:21) sitar and guitar open this one as a gentle duet with Colin's sitar play being at times more exploratory and experimental. The descending chord-and-melody line Ralph and Glen use here in support of Colin's sitar is quite similar to that of The Beatles' "Blackbird/Dear Prudence" as well as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Helpless." The players switch instruments halfway in to drums/percussion for Colin, piano for Ralph, and cor anglais for Paul. Nice song. More of a jam than a mathematically-composed jazz tune. (17.5/20)

Total time 42:39

Though the recording and performances are all stellar, the music is not always as full or jazzy as I was expecting and/or hoping for. (I guess that would be attributable to the absence of drums, right?) Still, this is, without a doubt, very enjoyable and impressive song-crafting.

B/four stars; an excellent display of skilled acoustic jazz fusion giving the listener plenty of glimpses of the nascent World Music and World Fusion scenes.