Customer Reviews

Blue Man

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4 star:		(2)
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While working as a technician installing a fire alarm sytem with several other people in a large court house over an entire summer, I had only two cassette tapes to listen to on my cheap one-speaker portable cassette player. The Blue Man by Steve Khan was one of them and Cosmic Messenger by Jean-Luc Ponty was the other. I enjoyed them both but listened mostly to The Blue Man. I must have heard it several hundred times that summer. I never got tired of it then. I did move on to other music later on.

The title cut "The Blue Man" is unforgettable. I was amazed when I first heard it and listened to it over and over. I haven't had the cassette for about 20 years, but I can still remember that song, especially the ultra-smooth synthesizer opening (like nothing I've ever heard before or since) and the rock solid - like a massive boulder - guitar introduction. And above all, I remember the mood it evoked, one of stoic hope and joy. The rest of the album is great too. It includes the Brecker Brothers playing a at very high level and tightly on several cuts. They add to the feel that Steve Khan establishes with his guitar. I sent a letter to Steve to let him know how much I enjoyed the music and got a nice hand-typed (this was the early eighties) letter back.

If you're into jazz fusion guitar, this will fill the bill. I haven't heard it recently enough to guarantee this, but I suspect that the music is timeless enough that you won't feel thrown back to the eighties, unless you've already listened to it and that's when you listened. Another album I enjoyed to the max from that era was Larry Carlton's self-titled album "Larry Carlton."

Steve Khan has been playing fine "off the main melody" guitar for nearly 40 years. However, I feel that he hit his stride shortly after this rare CD, and is still playing and producing fine albums today. This album would be great by the standards of lesser players, but it has a slight '80s patina, which is interesting and at times engaging, but not essential. His later output inspires and works better for me.

I had the vinyl. I wore it out. This album came out when I lived for "Jazz Fusion". The icons of the day were Weather Report, Return to Forever, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, et al. WRVR was alive and well in NYC and voices like this had an outlet. This album was one of my favorites and I will never tire of it. The rhythm section alone is worth the price of admission. Steve's composition is wonderful and the contributions of his supporting cast are stellar. His playing is inspired and furious. Thoughtful and moving. The depth and transparency of the mixes were, (are) a revelation. If you need a window in time to understand what this stylistic world of music was all about, open the shades and buy it. While you are at it add "Tightrope" and the rare and pricey these days "Arrows" to complete the picture. If you want to hear the elite NYC session cats of the day rockin' in musical fellowship it's hard to go wrong with this one.

How can there not be any previous reviews of this classic work? KHAN,WILL LEE,STEVE GADD,BRECKER BROS.DON GROLNICK,DAVID SANBORN !After reading all the praise (well deserved)for all of Steve's current and past work I just couldn't believe no one ever reviewed THE BLUE MAN!You have to hear it to believe it. EYE OVER AUTUMN (for folon) alone is worth the price, if you don't like the CD I'll give you double your money back

S.K. is a rare find indeed. Known mostly within the circles of music recording and session musicians, I first heard of him from his session work on some Steely Dan L.P.s of the late 70's. His style/work shines, as an almost punky but reflective jazz... it's fresh not elevator music unless you own the bldg. The L.P. is one of my favs...

Nice compositions, excellent soloing and top-notch sound quality make this a buy.