Customer Reviews

Tom Cat

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Growing up in Los Angeles during the early 1970s, my band played the homecoming dance 1974, and we were a horn band playing a lot of Tower of Power, Chicago etc. But the music I most admired at the time was Tom Scott's LA Express, who played down the street at The Baked Potato.

They say the music of your adolescence speaks most sentimental at older age, and they're right. Recently re-listening on CD to all the old records we listened to, this one's my favorite. The main reason: it's like sitting front row at the Baked. Complete with drum solo on the last tune of the set, it's like a burning live show at the famed intimate Jazz club. Better. Drummer Guerin is simply at his peak best in these studio performances. That up-beat high-hat stuff, his trademark, never sounded better (thanks to Scott's talented production ear, one of the most musical producers-arrangers to ever man the boards-etc., as exemplified on Joni Mitchell's Court & Spark).

Because the real thing that was happening at the time was: Fender Rhodes. The "West Coast Sound" depended upon it. There were many ways (tones, ranges, memorable figures etc.) the Rhodes was being used at the time and most were regarded as innovative, or at least "innovative sounding" - spacey-sounding studio production was being discovered-exploited, the disco-space-cadet was in fashion.

As it turned out, this record showcases many of the various Rhodes sounds of that period, Nash being a fine example of combining the Gospel flair of Preston with Herbie+ Jazz chops. And more. Nash is literally all over the instrument: I remember seeing him do live the famous top-off fingers dampening the tines while playing, which results a unique staccatto sound. All the funky Rhodes parts here on Tom's groovy little Pop-Jazz figures become immediate classics, while Nash's solos friggin soar well beyond the call of duty. Indeed many of the solos on this record are classics, as in the written out kind, ala Larry Carlton's solos on Steely Dan's Royal Scam. Hummable solos is about the best compliment I can think of given to a Jazz musician.

Ditto on choice of master guitar bluesman Robben Ford. Again with extra thanks to the engineering-mixing, Robben's parts stand out with a verve and conviction; no rhythm figure is too small. Simple funk grooves are given meticulous treatment. And bassist Max Bennett seems to be having the most fun, bringing an almost Led Zepplin-ish feeling to some of the tunes that experiment the most with Jazz-Rock fusion style (what some today would refer to as Acid-Jazz).

Can't pick any favs. Because every single cut on this record freakin burns. Awesome. Simple. Burnin Jazz-Funk-Pop fusion, done in the studio live with only a couple dubs, making it end up sounding like a live freaking Jazz festival show with virtuosos. Recorded so cleanly, you can hear the 70s mixer, the sound of a real, dry Rhodes with stereo effect only. Oh, the tones! Burnin Blues-Jazz-Rock guitarist through a Mesa Boogie. Tom with his Lyricon. Live, raw drum sound. Nothing like it.

In this cd, Tom Scott and crew straddle the fence playing music that would at once appeal to the masses as well as jazz fans. I think they succeeded at both.

The musicians are all excellent and are a cohesive unit. Max Bennett and John Guerin were established studio musicians, Robben Ford an outstanding guitarist. Perhaps the only unknown was keyboardest, Larry Nash. But Nash holds his own in grand fashion with the others.

There is nice variety in the tunes. There are some polyrhythmic pieces such as "Backfence Cattin'," some outright swingers such as "Rock Island Rocket" and the 8 plus minute tour-de-force "Mondo", featuring a well-integrated drum solo by Guerin.

The sound quality is excellent with good stereo separation. This cd is a fine introduction to Tom Scott, who was above the rank and file jazz-rock artists of the 1970s.

As the previous reviewer has described nicely, this was just how it sounded if you could hear the L.A. Express live. I have fond memories of back-to-back weekends they played at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip, and their energy was something that's still with me 30+ years later. Listening to "Rock Island Rocket" brings it all back, that's the beauty of great music. This was one of Robben Ford's first appearances on a major label record, and his solo on Guerin's "Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America..." perfectly captures his earlier, youthful soloing style when he seemed constantly to teeter on the edge of "out". It's like listening to a thrill ride. The rhythm team of Guerin-Bennett is telekinetic; Tom Scott never had a better group. I wish they had made more, but at least this one time someone got it right.

I first heard the track 'Rock Island Rocket' back in the 70's and this has been one of my favorite albums since then. I recently got it on CD and it was well worth the wait. While I am a fan of Tom Scott I am not crazy about all his releases but this is a gem and has to be possibly his finest hour. Well crafted tunes and top notch musicianship make this CD totally enjoyable, even today. John Guerin's drumming is funky, jazzy, and super tight. His solo on 'Mondo' remains a favorite. I hate drum machines with an absolute passion because drum machines are mechanical, sterile and will never have the funk and sweet soul of Mr. Guerin. For those that can't tell the difference I feel for you. And great guitarist, Robben Ford, is also on this disc. Let me not forget to give big kudos to Max Bennett on bass. What a great performance! I think bass players should check out this disc for the great lines played by Max and hear how he locks in with the drummer. Not one bad track on this disc. Simply put, this disc is a no-brainer!!
www.electriceyes.us

While doing a search in iTunes for something else altogether I stumbled upon this gem, immediately downloaded the entire CD and proceeded to jam. The memories came flooding back as I listened to Rock Island Rocket, and drummer John Guerin's single headed toms, a sound he was almost singularly responsible for making popular. It was that distinctive dry tone that attracted me to his playing along with an awesome sense of changing direction at a moments notice. Max Bennett on bass rounded out one of the best studio rhythm sections in Los Angeles in the 70's. Robben Ford's acoustic solo on Refried is one of the best and ranks right up there with anything Larry Carlton did without 110 volts. It was a complete package with great cover art and some of the best fusion of the 70's. You won't be dissapointed.

Tom Cat stands as one of the best of '70s "west coast" fusion records. Great groove, killer tunes, excellent musicianship and incredible production values. Robben Ford is a young talent at this point but he shines with a youthful energy that would later be honed into the genius that he is. My other favorites from this period (of this ilk) are The Crusaders "Those Southern Knights", Lee Ritenour's "Captain Fingers", Steve Khan's "Tight Rope" and Grover Washington Jr.'s "Mister Magic". I highly recommend them all!

I have the LP and recently bought the CD. Aside from this being an early favorite project of "smooth jazz" before it was called that, this album has some of the best album art ever created. Tom Scott has great players, including Robben Ford on guitar on this album. The album really is a must for all smooth jazz fans. This was "cutting edge" music back then, and is just as good now.

Tom Scott is a versatile musician who played with dozens of bands and soloists but was rarely a headliner. His talent, however, is evident in this jazz fusion CD from the 80's. Lots of keen riffs, instruments that really sing, and just plain fun. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!!

Can't give it five stars, 'cause it's a bit too uniform for that. But this is the only album I've heard where Scott actually took a risk or two. Here it's the use of the Lyricon, a wind-driven synth controller, as well as a bit more aggressive compositions.

As the previous review pointed out, Mondo is the standout piece here. The Lyricon is heavily featured, and I think this is the best stuff I've heard from Guerin.

I waited a long time for this one to come out on CD, and it was worth the wait.

Don't bother with any other of Scott's stuff, though. The first LA Express album is even omre uniform, and much more MOR.