The Jeff Lorber Fusion - Wizard Island (1980)

Japanese Import

Fantastic synth-based instrumental pop/smooth jazz that set the tone for the genre in the early '80s (see also Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Spyro Gyra, Crusaders, Flim & The BB's, etc, and in particular, Yellowjackets). Even without the obi and a price point around $10, I didn't hesitate picking this import CD out of the used bin as soon as I saw it. Judging by current asking prices on the secondary market, it was sound investment (pun intended).

With this album, The Jeff Lorber Fusion expanded from a trio to a quartet with the addition of saxophonist Kenny Gorelick, later known as simply Kenny G. Gorelick sounds great on tenor and is a more restrained soloist (read: doesn't add as many ornaments to his licks as he eventually would), but is immediately identifiable when he picks up a soprano sax. Melody lines are often doubled (keyboard/woodwind) throughout the album. And I am digging the sound of Lorber's analog synths - among those listed in the credits are Minimoog, Moog Modular System, Oberheim OB-X, and Prophet-5.

I thought "Wizard Island" was just a whimsical album title, but then I find out that it's an actual island in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. I'm a big supporter of our national parks and visit whenever possible (I was enjoying Big Bend just last week), so I'm adding Crater Lake to my "to do" list.

Press of the time:

• Record World: "their sound is highly cosmopolitan"
• Musician - "satisfying if anonymous"
• Billboard: "successfully bridges contemporary jazz and rock"
• CashBox: "the broadest, most tasteful multi-keyboard style this side of Joe Zawinul"
• DownBeat (★★): "here's an album remarkable in its cultivated, uniform banality."
• High Fidelity: "their best effort to date"

To call this album their best yet is saying something since it was preceded by the excellent LPs Soft Space (1978) and Water Sign (1979).

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #123
• Billboard Jazz: #1
• CashBox: #96
• CashBox Jazz: #3

Tracks: It's a quality listen from top-to-bottom, but just for fun let's rank 'em:

1. Wizard Island
2. City
3. Can't Get Enough
4. Rooftops (feat. Chick Corea)
5. Sweet
6. Reflections
7. Lava Lands
8. Shadows
9. Fusion Juice

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Another one of those albums that I wish I had been introduced to when released because the 1980 version of myself might have enjoyed it even more than today's version.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Step It Up (2015)
The Very Best of Jeff Lorber (2002)
Midnight (1998)

Jeff Lorber Fusion - Step It Up (2015)

Lorber is one of the best instrumentalist/composer/producers in the smooth jazz game today and he brings us some good stuff in this revamped version of Jeff Lorber Fusion, which includes the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip helping with bass, writing, and production duties (in the cover photo, that's Haslip on the left and Lorber on the right).

Plenty to enjoy here, but I really like how it starts off as a typical Lorber album, then slowly becomes a Yellowjackets album for the middle tracks before returning to Lorber's style for the final few tracks. Makes a strong case against shuffling. In addition to Haslip, Bob Mintzer and Robben Ford of the Yellowjackets make appearances on this album. I'm liking this version of the Fusion (not that there was anything wrong with the 1977-81 version).

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #9

Tracks: My favorites are Mustang, Arecibo, Deep Green, and the lead track Get Up, which hit #1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart, which has been a thing since June 2006 (I learned something new today). But the whole album is good from top-to-bottom; nothing to skip here. Thanks for not including any vocal tracks, Jeff.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best of Jeff Lorber (2002)
Midnight (1998)

Jeff Lorber - Midnight (1998)

I normally like projects that involve multi-instrumentalist Lorber (and he's been involved in a lot of projects other than his own stuff). His smooth jazz/funk-lite fusion keyboard and production styles are immediately identifiable. This is a strong effort; I'm digging the timeless sound of Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, and is that a Moog synth I hear? I appreciate that Lorber fought the urge to put saxophone on this album because I think his melodies just sound better on keyboard. For that reason, I wish he would have reconsidered the vocal tracks as they just throw off the continuity of this mostly instrumental release. If I could stay awake until midnight, this laid back CD would be a great album to listen to at that time.

People often write about Lorber's mid-80's work, but I prefer the stuff like this that came before and after those attempts at pop/R&B chart success. You may remember his Top 40 hit Facts Of Love which peaked at #27 in 1986. That sounds like a Janet Jackson-Jimmy Jam-Terry Lewis song and, fortunately, doesn't resemble anything on this album.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #17

Tracks:  To me, the standout cut is the cover of The Beatles' Dear Prudence. I'm also liking the first three tracks as well as The Wild East. As suggested earlier, I usually skip the vocal tracks for continuity's sake.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best of (2002)

Jeff Lorber - The Very Best of (2002)

GREATEST HITS WEEK (JANUARY 17-23, 2011)

This is above-average funky smooth jazz from keyboardist Jeff Lorber. It is inappropriately titled since it only focuses on his work since 1993.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:
Like: Iquassu Falls, Reverend Green, Chopsticks, and Yellowstone
Dislike: Bring It On, Lost With You, and Say Love

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None