Customer Reviews

Big City

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Big City" is far more throughaly funky and far less self
indulgent then alot of Lenny Whites solo work and therefore can be seen as an overall high water mark in his catalog.Nothing
on this album is dull or overdone and the funk level is set on
HIGH so if you want some Lenny White in your collection,get this!

This is White's second solo album ,the first one was Ven. Summer.
This is the ex-drummer from the great Chick Corea band Return
to Forever. His fame with them was on the CD Romantic Warrior.
(get this too ,amazing!!) The is much better than his first,
White uses an all-star cast to make this cd Groove!!! Great
CD,worth getting.

This is White's second solo album ,the first one was Ven. Summer.
This is the ex-drummer from the great Chick Corea band Return
to Forever. His fame with them was on the CD Romantic Warrior.
(get this too ,amazing!!) The is much better than his first,
White uses an all-star cast to make this cd Groove!!! Great
CD,worth getting.

With a guest list of over a dozen (including Herbie Hancock,Neal Schon and Jan Hammer) one might think 'Big City' would be a somewhat overwelming album musically. And in many ways it can be-Lenny White's ambitions on this album were quite spacious as usual but he had a pretty good idea what it was he wanted to do. With the title song his intent was very clear:his music hear was going to be based in the groove and this one has plenty of funk-even Lenny Pickett of TOP shows up and his horn really adds to the overal spice of the tune! "Sweet Dreamer" is a simply beautiful,gentle ballad sung by the strong,husky singer Linda Tillery and has a wonderful humanitarian message delivered with great dignity-Herbie Hancock's dreamy solo is icing on the cake. After a couple brief orchestral interludes Herbie's back for a solo of a different color on the heavy fusion funk of "Rapid Transit",one of my favorite songs here.Another guest is emediatly identifiable guest is Verdine White who wraps is popping vamps aroun Lenny's thundering beats. A brief little blip after sure got my attention-the Afro-cuban electronica of "Ritmo Loco" where Lenny plays all the instruments (mostly percussion) and a moog drum solo that sounds a lot like a synthezier. Neil Schoen's presense here is best summed up by the wild "Dreams Come And Go Away". "Enchanted Pool Suite" presents us with an elongated fusion jam that goes from string section to jazzy funk interludes featuring Jan Hammer's keyboards that work so well with Lenny and keeps it right through the finale "And We Meet Again". 'Big City' joins the lost list of "all star fusion albums" the most famous of which is George Duke's Reach for It,Narada Michael Walden's Awakening and Norman Connors' You Are My Starship-all of which are worth checking out and all of which jump to the head of the class. This at least have one the idea that sophmore slump would'nt be a problem for Lenny White.

This album was one of the best releases from the now defunct Nemperor Records. The composition "Rapid Transit" features one of the best pianos solos from Herbie Hancock ever recorded. This CD should be in every fusion afficianado's collection.

How long I have waited to see the great Lenny White's work available on digital media. I just died and went to heaven!!! This album is a funky masterpiece that has been hidden from view in the the digital world far too long!!! I still have my vinyl copy under lock and key as well as armed guards on duty round the clock!!! If anyone even thinks about stealing my "Big City" LP all I have to say is make sure your insurance premiums are paid up and you may as well say good-bye to your family, because when I catch you with my copy of Lenny Whites "Big City" the undertaker will have work to do!!!

Play this in your 1976 Thunderbird, wear a suede fedora with a great big feather in it, a white leisure suit and put the seat 'way back so that you can drive straight-armed and ENJOY! Lenny White is a serious drummer and his chops are indisputable. But I just stuck my vinyl version of this on the turntable and so much of it told me why 70's music is lamentable. However, I would encourage you to buy it for the cut "Sweet Dreamer" which is worth 5 stars in and of itself. I wish Lenny had more of this tune in him and less a desire to show that he could pound away more fast and furious than other fusion drummers of his time. A perfect time warp piece.