Customer Reviews

Neil Larsen & Orbit Feat. Robben Ford

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being that Neil Larsen's 1979 masterpiece "Jungle Fever" is my all-time favorite album (and I have owned at least a thousand), I was WAY looking forward to this! Not only does it feature Neil's incredibly melodic compositions (some from "Jungle Fever" and one or two from his follow up "High Gear"), but the musicianship is world class! One of my favorite guitarists (the magnificent Robben Ford) is featured throughout, and plays in a jazzier style than he often does, though still keeping a bluesy touch. The other players are great as well: Jimmy Haslip(Yellowjackets),Tom Breichtlein(Robben Ford and the Blue Line), and Gary Meek (Hollywood session great). The tunes are absolutely gorgeous, in a word, memorable. Highlights are, "From A Dream", one of the prettiest melodies I've heard), "Midnight Pass" (a beautiful melody from Neil's Full Moon 1972 album with guitar great Buzz Feiten, and if you have not heard that you are seriously missing out!), and Red Desert, a soft samba with a fantastic Robben Ford solo! Neil plays fabulous piano throughout, and this time out his tunes are in a more straight ahead jazz style than the fusion-y Jungle Fever. I must also mention the unbelievable sound of this live in studio recording (by legend Bernie Grundman), this is indeed one of the best sounding cds I've ever owned. I have never been so sure of anything as I am of recommending this cd highly. It really is essential!

Music and albums like this are, sadly, out of style these days, and even in the heyday of fusion they were never the most popular sounds on the planet. So it's all the more amazing that this CD somehow snuck out of the studio and made it to market for the (presumably) tiny cult which remembers, misses and still cherishes great instrumental music performed with verve and virtuosity.

As a fan of Neil Larsen's work going back to the very first Full Moon record, how this one got past me when it was initially released, I don't know. But I discovered upon first listening, Orbit is one of the most enjoyable small ensemble jazz records ever made and destined to be a lifelong favorite in my collection. Whether it's the astonishing warmth and transparency of the recording itself (CD's just don't normally sound this good!) or the stellar musicianship and ESP-like interplay of everyone performing or whether it's Neil Larsen's gorgeous compositions re-imagined for this setting, or maybe Robben Ford's sinuous guitar setting those terrific melodies on fire with jaw-dropping solos (`tho I miss Neil and Buzz Feiten's patented unison playing on the melody lines just a little), there's a wealth of reasons to just flat fall in love with this album.

I can't add anything to the superlatives the other reviewers have heaped on it, but I was so smitten by Orbit, I just had to add another voice to the "buy-it-now" chorus - before music this exquisite dips even further below our cultural radar.

A simple review. If you like hearing a band back each other like they'd grown up together, buy this record. If you want to hear some of the best solo's Robben's ever played, get it. If you are afraid of the word fusion, friends, no need to fear. This record has the best of all words, never abrasive, very uplifting. Its never pretentious the way some soloists can be. Elements of Jazz, Funk, Blues, Latin Jazz, Fusion(easy now) , and a healthy dose of love. Its not just the band that has it folks- This record is for you. Its from the people that call their label "the peoples record label". No corporate mucky mucks in their entire(tiny) organization. In fact they don't even record at a recording studio, its at Bernie Grundman Mastering - Bernie's behind it, I'm buying it- The guy that makes Thriller, Herbie Hancock, Jazz & classical re-issues, even top pop records like Stefani, Aguilera , Outkast etc..when that guy says this is HIS labor of love, I'm listening. Behind this label are hearts of gold, and a fanaticism for great sound that should've been around long ago to help save this era of crap in- crap out and declining rapidly is the quality. They can't buy stuff that works well enough to make records ...so they built the recording gear- thats nuts and I love it. Everything is live- read the web page about Straight Ahead Records ---Listen folks, a vote for this, is a vote for better things in every genre and the future of music FOR YOU!---because if these guys make any money, it'll go into the next record. It won't only be one genre- I asked them at a show- they're about ready to tackle other stuff too and I can't wait-
Keep it up legends, keep it up crusaders, there's still some of us that care.

Anybody who enjoyed Neil Larsen's stellar organ and keyboard playing in the late '70s or '80s as a solo artist or part of the fusion duo Larsen/Feiten Band is guaranteed a good blast off back into "Orbit" with this release. Larsen re-works a few old nuggets, adds a number of new compositions (his best new stuff perhaps in the last 20 years), and wraps it into a seamless, grooving package with an updated 21st century sound. Helping out is the incomparable Robben Ford, original founder of the Yellowjackets, who makes a welcome appearance back in the jazz fusion space after more bluesier outings in the past few years. Do yourself a favour and buy this CD (possibly erroneously listed as vinyl on some Amazon pages?)

this is a long way from the "Villagers" in SRQ.
Always enjoyed your "old keyboard" with the grocery stamps all over it.
Walt

So good to hear this music. I never get tired of listening to this or any of his records. He is one of the best songwriter/musicians for instrumental music.

I was really looking forward to this one, but it was a disappointment. It's nowhere near as interesting as Jungle Fever. Neil has chosen to remake a lot of his older stuff to feature a horn section and different arrangements. Two original compositions I would've loved to hear him do himself - "Grand Larceny" from Sea Level's first album, and "Stand Up" from George Benson's "20-20" album - probably never were considered, but "Midnight Pass" (from the first Full Moon album back in 1972 and also from Sea Level's second album) made it, despite the fact that I still can't remember how the melody goes. "Jungle Fever" and "Red Desert" both are inferior to the original versions. Some of this stuff sounds like lounge music due to the excessive presence of the horn section. While they're great musicians, the arrangements just don't need them. I don't find the few new tunes here particularly inspired. And yes, Robben Ford is a great guitarist, but all these reviews that make as if this is a Robben Ford album are written by fans who would give any CD by him 5 stars even if it was just of him tuning his guitar. Ford's fine here, but the synergy Buzzy and Neil had, and those doubled melody lines, with (as a Warner Brothers promo sheet said) Buzzy in the lead and Neil with a smoky undertow, well... I miss that sound like crazy, and I don't think we're going to get any more of it. Makes me want to find Lani Hall's 1979 album just so I can hear that sound.

Just buy this recording and listen...is the same as everything else Neil has put together? No, but it is really nice stuff. Robben Ford is sweet addition...trust me. Nothing Neil records is half-assed.

Robben Ford shines on these organically rich fusion jams, all recorded live in the studio.

It's great to hear Neil Larsen is recording again. His sound is unique and has always been one of my favorites.
The music is great and Robben Ford is smoking.
The sound quality that Straight Ahead Records has done with this recording is fabulous.