STEVE HOWE TRIO: NEW FRONTIER

Steve Howe has recorded an awful lot of solo albums, and since some of his playing is jazzy, I always wondered why he didn't come up with something as epic as Pat Metheny's IMAGINARY DAY or THE WAY UP. After all, at his very best (i.e. with 1970s Yes) he sounded suitably ecstatic. All through his solo career, however, he mainly seemed to want to let his hair down. This attitude gave us dozens of 'nice tunes' (the 2013 ANTHOLOGY provides a delightful overview) without delivering old-fashioned Symphonic Prog Grandeur. When I found out that Howe had actually made an album with what looks like a jazz trio, I really didn't know what to expect... Well, let me tell you: Pat Metheny or Larry Coryell this is not!

In fact, at least half of the pieces sound 'rocky' rather than jazzy. But it's a delightful collection all the same. Steve and his two fellow musicians never seem less than inspired. Dylan Howe is a drummer very much in the Bill Bruford tradition, and organist Ross Stanley is given a lot of space (but not too much!) for soloing - something rare in Steve's solo career, which tends to be rather egocentric. If you love the full-blown instrumental treatment Yes (and Steve H in particular) once gave Paul Simon's 'America', I think you'll also love NEW FRONTIER. By the way, I just found out there's also an earlier album by the 'Steve Howe Trio'! Can't wait to go and check it out...