Customer Reviews

3-Way Mirror

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is a very moody album. There is hypnotic, smooth feeling to these tracks that is positively magical. The selections are eclectic, and there is something special in every piece. Track 1 begins with a fretless four-string acoustic bass and hand clapping, and builds into a colorful array of guitar and vocals. And what sonics! The entire recording was accomplished in Oxnard CA's civic auditorium-with a single mike! This creates a true sense of space around the musicians and singers. No electronic reverb here. You may not listen to this all the time, but it will grow on you. Turn off the lights and enjoy!

This is one of my all time favorite latin jazz albums. It features wonderful vocals from Airto and Flora and of course amazing percussion from Airto. The supporting cast is equally strong with Kei Akagi on piano and the great Joe Farrell on saxophone. Kei Akagi is an amazing piano player who went on to play with Miles Davis. I use to see him with Stanley Turrentine and later saw him do a show with a nice quartet including Rick Margitza. Kei reminds me of Bill Evans or Allan Broadbent combined with McCoy Tyner, a very sweet combination. Of historical significance on this album, it was the last recording of Joe Farrell prior to him death. Joe Shines with his obviously Coltrane influenced soloing. He was at the top of his game and is brilliant on this recording. This album is live, well recorded, and historic.

I bought this CD because ever since the very first Return To Forever albums I have been a huge fan of Joe Farrell, and of Airto and his wife Flora Purim. These three, along with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke made some great music on those two albums. Chick morphed RTF into an electro-fusion band afterwards, without Airto, Flora and Joe Farrell, and I never really cared for that music. I preferred the latin jazz influences of Airto and Flora, and the flute and tenor sax playing of Joe. As it happened this recording turned out to be Joe Farrell's last; he died only a year later. It's a beautiful piece of music. Airto and Flora both wrote glowing tributes to Joe in the liner notes, and they dedicated the album to their great friend. Man, Joe was good. And he is missed! I recently saw Chick Corea at Seattle's Jazz Alley. He had recreated the original RTF, sort of, with Airto on drums, the great Hubert Laws playing flute and the legendary Eddie Gomez on acoustic bass. No Flora, however. But they did play some early RTF stuff, and Chick played grand piano and Fender Rhodes, so it was as close to the real thing as is possible in 2007. What an honor to be in the presence of these musical giants. I never did get a chance to see the original RTF or to ever see Joe Farrell; I'm really glad to have this last recording to remember him by. Well worth the $$ for this rare CD.