Customer Reviews

Shadows in the Air

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is clearly Bruce's best outing since Cream's breakup many, many, years ago and was long overdue. Bruce fans can now comfortably move the 1969 solo release "Songs For A Tailor" and BBM's 1994 "Around The Next Dream" one disc back on the changer.

Bruce demonstrates what fans have known for years, he is more than just the former bass player for the former group Cream. On this disc Bruce plays the Vox, Piano, Bass and Acoustic Guitar and also demonstrates that age has not deprived him of his golden pipes. The reunion of Eric Clapton on "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room", two Cream classics, is a bonus to be sure and the remakes are both true to the originals and excellent. However, the CD would have been a success even without those songs added. That's how good it is.

It is also nice to hear Gary Moore playing again with Bruce on two songs "Heart Quake" and "Dark Heart". As with the Clapton numbers (Cream), Bruce is just Ginger Baker away from a full power trio reunion (BBM). The addition of Dr. John on two numbers is an added bonus.

A welcome addition to any collection!

With "Shadows in the Air" Jack Bruce serves a reminder once again that he is truly one of the great unsung and under appreciated artists of the past several decades.

Unlike most performers who can be stereotyped and counted on to record material within the realm of general expectations, Bruce had always been a chameleon of sorts. And on his latest release he shows all of his colors...and magnificent they are.

Shadows in the Air has something for everybody. Blues, jazz, rock, latino rhythmic excursions and Bruce's own eclectic hybrid of Scottish folk/soul are all on glorious display. Bruce moves effortlessly from one style to the next with each excursion given the master's touch with tasteful production and virtuoso playing from a stellar cast of musicians. Bruce taps into the musical veins of locations such as London, Havana, New Orleans and New York in taking the listener on a world tour of sound.

Much has been written of his coaxing Eric Clapton into joining him once again on revisited Cream classics "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room". But while both of these tracks are wonderful and Clapton plays superbly, this release moves forward instead of back. Nine of the tracks are new Bruce compositions and serve as confirmation that Jack's songwriting is in fine form.

"52nd Street" is a first-rate blues about the greedy and shameful state of affairs in the recording industry delivered with an urban feel. "Directions Home" a wonderful dedication to Tony Williams and Larry Young as Jack nods towards the seminal band Lifetime. On "Windowless Rooms", Dr. John's organ adds a steamy atmosphere to the proceedings. And Gary Moore's haunting lines on "Dark Heart" showcase why he is one of the very finest guitarists around.

But the recording belongs to Jack. An instrumental virtuoso in his own right, Jack's legendary bass playing has matured to the extent where he seems content to subdue things a bit thus allowing his fellow musicians the opportunity to shine. This is particularly evident on the Cream tunes as Jack allows Clapton space to breath unlike he might have in the 60's. He no longer flashes a previous tendency to compete with Eric. Instead he seems content to compliment. The mark of a true pro is maturity. And make no mistake about it...this is mature music. And on top of it all, Bruce's remarkable voice sounds better than ever.

Shadows in the Air isn't without fault. All that percussion tends to be too busy on "White Room" and distracts from the song's essence. Ginger Baker did it better by himself over 30 years ago. The West, Bruce & Laing classic "Out Into the Fields", arguably one of Jack's finest compositions and certainly among his most passionately delivered vocal performances, lacks the fire on this recording when compared to the original. It would have also been nice had Jack picked up his cello and joined in on something complimentary with Alfredo Triff's violin.

But this is splitting hairs. Shadows in the Air is a dynamic piece of work and a worthy purchase for any discriminating listener searching for something a cut above most of the dreck which now haunts the airwaves.

The word "genius" is an overused term to the point of nausea. But when it comes to Jack Bruce...it genuinely applies.

I simply wanted to add to the current list of reviews to further push the idea that this is a terrific record. Jack's voice is pristine, and from the first four notes of "Out Into The Fields" you can feel the brilliance the lies ahead. I guess it boils down to the fact that he's never stopped playing and singing - (remember 'No Stopping' with Robin Trower) and it SHOWS!

Put together with an ensemble lineup, (though interspersed among the tracks, which was a great idea) two drummers and his undeniably recognizable bass sound, this latest venture for Jack is more a return to what he's all about - complex melody and harmony, stylistic playing, interesting arrangements and fab performance.

And kudos must also be given to Kip Hanrahan. I own their previous collaborations (Vertical's Currency, et als) and I can only say that "Shadows" collaborative effort makes for a wonderful listen, but also a terrific time piece - one that will take you on a journey, and deliver the goods, and leave you wanting more.

Jack IS back (though he never left). Thanks JB.

Mastering Note: From the liner notes, I gather this was recorded on 24-track analog...Don't let that fool you...It's rich, warm and deep sounding, with soaring highs and crisp mids. They definitely got it right. A+

For those of you who have followed JB's career, post Cream, you should be accustomed to his eclectic approach anchored by the passionate vocals and muscular, inventive bass. This latest release, clearly influenced by his work with Kip Hanrahan, will not disappoint. The new songs are nothing less than terrific and the re-working of some of his earlier material is, for the most part, very interesting and vibrant. I highly recommend you buy this on the spot and listen to it continuously for a couple of doezn times. You'll start to get it - and then love it. And then it grows even deeper. Warning: do NOT get this album if you are a Cream only fan looking to re-live the glory days. An open mind and an open heart will yield many rewards, both on this album and in life.

Jack's best album since SONGS FOR A TAILOR. He really didn't need to add the two CREAM songs or Eric for that matter. This new material and the re-workings of a few old solo numbers is truly superb on every level. You take it for granted that Jack's playing will be excellent, but it's the singing this time that sends this collection into orbit. Recent CMP releases pale in comparison to this one; must be Kip Hanrahan and the latin rhythms that propel this into new territory. And I kind of like the latin version of WHITE ROOM. It pleases where SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE rather falls flat. Get this essential Jack Bruce CD! You won't be sorry.

First, I'll admit I have not heard any other Jack Bruce solo album; I had heard him only in Cream records so far. In fact, this is the first solo album I have by ANY artist which first became famous in a prominent band (I love Led Zeppelin, for example, but I still don't have any of its members' solo albums. So goes for several other bands I like a lot). A reviewer named showbiz27, among other remarks, coldly and dryly says that Bruce's voice is "shot." Ouch. He could have used some sugar-coating for that one, right? Show some respect, man! This is the legendary Jack Bruce. Obviously, no one's voice will be the same as it was more than 35 years later. Yes, his vocals sound a bit strained and a bit rough here and there, but the passion is undeniable. If you check out my other reviews, you'll see that this album is not even remotely like anything else on that list. I found it to be a very unique blend of folk, jazz, rock, and especially, blues. Bruce's writing still oozes a restless desire to be unique, a thirst for exploration that I find truly refreshing. In this sense, Bruce is still his young, eager, late 60's self. If some of the songs sound a bit like jams, so what? The means is not what's important, it's the end result. And the end result here is great, heartfelt music. That's like saying The Grateful Dead's music is bad because it is jam-based, or jam-originated, or whatever. Who cares how it came together? I certainly don't, as long as I get good music. I will definitely explore some of his other work, especially his much-acclaimed debut, "Songs for a Tailor." As of now, I have fallen in love with this music. Give it a chance, like I did. The first time I heard it, it sort of didn't click with me -it was different from what I am used to. But after a while, it sank in, and I was sold. Jack Bruce is still going strong as a creative artist, and that's great news.

Jack Bruce is one of those natural musicians with a perfect ear for scales & pitches. Another one is Paul MaCartney & they both happen to play bass as their primary instument. This CD is again more commercial than his earlier works from "Songs for a Tailor" to "Monkjack" but it is still innovative. Jack is not one who sticks to a few formulas in his compositions and arrangements. Even old standards like Cream's Sunshine of your love & White Room get facelifts with different embellishments. Even Clapton sounded fresh after having incorporated these two numbers in his live sets for over a decade now. This CD is a real winner.

so here we are, finally in the position to absorb a new work by one of the most important musicians of the later half of the twentieth century ... yeah, he's that good ... and collaborating with friend and "facilitator" kip hanrahan, who simply lets jack be jack, acting more as "rhythm cop" on this one ... and writing words that can only flow in that stream of consciousness style which, after all, is kip, yet when peter brown is called upon for his contribution, it fits kip's approach, perfectly. perfectly ... jack's voice, compositional skills, piano and, yes, bass playing, is brilliant, but it always is ... his voice in particular has reached a point where it almost shimmers ... yes, there are some older tunes by the creams and such, but the point is not so much as to rehash the past as it is to show, on the one hand, the timelessness of jack's music, and on the other, just how vital jack's contribution was to these tunes all along ... perhaps this seems like a sixties cliche, but, i suspect that the power of jack's music, the magic of it all, is not so much his talent, so considerable, not so much his passion, so intense you can reach out and feel it on your fingertips, but rather sheer love ... the love of music, of the players for each other, and of jack for everyone who cares enough about music to simply listen ... and understand.

yes, i suggest you buy this record.

Jack Bruce. Kind of an 'odd man out' - never in the mainstream; that's for sure. I hesitated before buying this one. I did and am glad I did (I'm so Glad).
I have yet to fully involve myself with the CD. This is a good sign. It indicates the music contains more to investigate.
My recomendation is simple. One of my all time favourites has been West, Bruce, Laing's "I'm Into The Fields". Buy the CD for that reason. It's the first track. If you hate the rest of the CD you will still have your money's worth.
If you are shopping, you could do a lot worse than this. Bruce is a first rate musician and keeps company with the best!

Seems like JB turned it up a little bit & recruited some great help here. White Room & Sunshine have a little more production and are filled-out with some additional insturments. Out in the Fields was an interesting piece to choose from his old catalog--he gives it a nice, refreshing sound. Dark Heart & Mr. Flesh are also nicely crafted songs from the unnoticed one.