Customer Reviews

Expansions

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This disk is timeless. Anyone who likes funk-jazz, smooth jazz, hard bob or plain good music will like this disk. Lonnie Liston Smith is one those forgotten about guys who got lost in the void of the 70's. However this disk just proves that great music is always being made no matter how bleak the scene may be. As The previous reviewer said there are elements of smooth jazz but I don't think that's fair. Smooth jazz evolved from music like this so while there are similarities it is just one influence. Kinda like comparing rock and roll to the blues. That being said my favorite tracks are summer days and shadows the solos by Smith on them are great. Unfortunately as much as I love this disk I always skip over peace (Check out Horace Silvers Blowin the blues away for the real version) and my love. However the other songs more then make up for this. Give this one a shot if you want to hear something truly original for its time.

This man is as passionate, spiritual, melodic and sensuous on the keyboards as the impressionist renoir was on canvas. Lonnie Liston Smith paints a multitude of colors and rainbows in his divine interpretation of improvisation. This second Cosmic Echoes release is truly off the planet, how can we forget the ensemble that catapulted Lonnie Liston Smith into his greatest success in the 70's, with musicians such as David Hubbard, Cecil Mcbee, Lawrence Killian, Art Gore, and the unforgettable one two combination of brother extraordinaire Donald Smith. This album along with Visions of a New World which was the sucessor to Expansions are truly remarkable in style and innovativeness, you can feel the power of his presence as he speaks volumes of spiritual fortitude and oneness, Donald Smith vocals on "My Love" is inspirational and erotic. His vocal talents have not received the accolades he deserves, check Donald Smith out on Lonnie Liston Smith's album "Renaissance", the cut is "Starlight and You", when you hear this cut you'll see what I mean, this man's voice is so very erotic, and sensuous with deep spiritual intonations, you just got to give it up. I often wonder what has happen to Donald Smith, I am so happy that his brother included him in the creation of the Cosmic Echoes, and I am so very pleased to see the reissue of such wonderful and unique compositions, treat yourself to a truly wonderful solitary experience and check out who I call the renoir of the keyboards, you will not be disappointed.

Peace, One Love Faatih

Everything between Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, Lonnie takes you on a journey of his own. A combination of funk, jazz and some psychedelia, Expansions shares a time in place with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Herbie Mann, and Freddie Hubbard just to name a few. Lonnie and his Cosmic Echoes will take you on a mind trip with the title song "Expansions. A song with spacious keyboards a funky beat and peace loving lyrics. A real treat.

This and other Lonnie Liston Smith collections are the definitive albums of their generation. Should you choose to buy these recordings you must guard them with your very life!!! But seriously folks, the album has been one of my all-time favorites from the begining and I am sure it will be yours too. The musicianship and recording techniques are the best you will ever hear...

This album occupies a middle ground between the all out jazz/funk of Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters" and the soul/R&B of Marvin Gaye.

Be warned: there is a strong element of "smooth" jazz here. There's a good amount of soprano sax and breeziness that may be off-putting to you if you're not thorougly into EVERYTHING from the 70's.

But to be fair, the Cosmic Echoes' sound here is equally characterized by some very dank bass lines, excellent drumming, latin percussion, and the great piano/electric synthesizer work of Smith himself. At many points, just when the music seems about to sway into the schmaltz realm, Smith shows up with some spacey organ to remind you that this is more about a lazy, burnt-out afternoon by the pool than a trip to Sears.

Smith's brother contributes some high pitched, Marvin Gaye-esque vocals on a couple of tracks that some people may like, while some people may wish weren't there. The lyrics to these songs are pretty idealistic, which is a nice way of saying "dated," and the delivery again is breezy--- almost at odds in certain points (particularly on the title track) with the knotty funk being laid down by the rhythm section.

But given time and taken on its own terms, "Expansions" reveals itself to be a great summer album. It's happy, it's bright, it's silky, it's funky.

This CD will take you on a mind bending journey into the realm of 70's jazz/funk/fusion!!! The bassline from the title track "Expansions" was even sampled by the rap group Stetsasonic for their classic tune entitled "Talkin' all that Jazz". How many of you hip hop heads can remember that one??? Add this to your collection of funkdified jazz fusion. Also, try to get "Blue Break Beats" volumes 1-4 for the most spankin' jazz breaks ever!

This man is as passionate, spiritual, melodic and sensuous on the keyboards as the impressionist renoir was on canvas. Lonnie Liston Smith paints a multitude of colors and rainbows in his divine interpretation of improvisation. This second Cosmic Echoes release is truly off the planet, how can we forget the ensemble that catapulted Lonnie Liston Smith into his greatest success in the 70's, with musicians such as David Hubbard, Cecil Mcbee, Lawrence Killian, Art Gore, and the unforgettable one two combination of brother extraordinaire Donald Smith. This album along with Visions of a New World which was the sucessor to Expansions are truly remarkable in style and innovativeness, you can feel the power of his presence as he speaks volumes of spiritual fortitude and oneness, Donald Smith vocals on "My Love" is inspirational and erotic. His vocal talents have not received the accolades he deserves, check Donald Smith out on Lonnie Liston Smith's album "Renaissance", the cut is "Starlight and You", when you hear this cut you'll see what I mean, this man's voice is so very erotic, and sensuous with deep spiritual intonations, you just got to give it up. I often wonder what has happen to Donald Smith, I am so happy that his brother included him in the creation of the Cosmic Echoes, and I am so very pleased to see the reissue of such wonderful and unique compositions, treat yourself to a truly wonderful solitary experience and check out who I call the renoir of the keyboards, you will not be disappointed.

Peace, One Love Faatih

I have followed Lonnie Listen Smith's Albums&Career for quite a while.His Solo Albums are slammin as He is Rocking the Keys here.Bringing His own Unique touch to Jazz&Funk.from His tough Grooves with Pharoah Sanders to His Stand Out Jams here.this is another in a long list of Must Have Jams from Him check it out.

This recording's a favorite of mine since it's relaease. It's sort of a 70's "Kind Of Blue", in that much like Miles did, Lonnie uses basic "modal" compositions to, well, "expand" his exceptional improvisational skills. The recording also features the best recorded version of the tune "Peace"$.

Most of the ones looking for this album are only familiar with the track "Expansions", since it has been released on many compilations. But listening to the entire album is so much better. Sometimes you'd think that these guys went to the future for their inspiration and flashed themselves back to the seventies to record this album, 'cause up to this day this material by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes is fabulously modern, funky and danceable. A CD you can't afford to miss if you're a jazz/funk DJ, a beat/sample digger or a jazz aficionado.