Altoist Eric Marienthal's debut as a leader has four notable guest appearances by his employer, keyboardist Chick Corea, and one spot for guitarist Frank Gambale. Otherwise, he is generally joined by a quintet also including keyboardist Jim Cox, the great bassist John Patitucci, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and guitarist Pat Kelley. The ten obscure songs (only two by the leader) are worthwhile, if not overly memorable, but Marienthal's soulful solos are always fun to hear. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.
GRP Records, GRP-9563, 1988
Recorded December, 1987 at
Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, California
Personnel:
Eric Marienthal - Alto
Saxophone, Yamaha Wx7 (#5), Arranger (#1,2,5,7,9,11,12)
Chick Corea - Acoustic Piano
(#3-6), Synthesizers (#3,6,12), Arranger (#1-4,6,9)
Jim Cox - Synthesizers,
Acoustic Piano (#10)
Pat Kelley - Guitar
(#1,2,5,6,8-12), Arranger (#8,10)
Frank Gambale - Guitar (#7)
John Patitucci - Bass,
Arranger (#11)
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Luis Conte - Percussion
(#2,3)
Joe Curiale - Arranger (#5,7,11,12)
Tracks:
01. Voices Of The Heart {Judd
Miller; Arr. Eric Marienthal} (3:59)
02. Your Eyes {Joe Curiale,
Bobby Caldwell; Arr. Eric Marienthal, Chick Corea} (4:19)
03. Blue Space {Chick Corea;
Arr. Chick Corea} (4:12)
04. Brazilian Dream {John
Patitucci; Arr. Chick Corea} (2:49)
05. Premonition {Eric
Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (5:04)
06. Tippin' {Tim Landers,
Eric Marientha; Arr. Chick Corea} (4:48)
07. Being With You {Eric
Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (3:55)
08. Harvest Dance {Pat
Kelley; Arr. Pat Kelley} (4:46)
09. Written In The Wind {Joe
Curiale; Arr. Eric Marienthal, Chick Corea} (4:17)
10. Walk Like An Emu {Pat
Kelley; Arr. Pat Kelley} (4:28)
11. Someone Said {Eric
Marienthal, Joe Curiale, John Patitucci} (4:31)
12. Backstep {Eric
Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (4:49)
Total Time: 52:04
Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Chick
Corea
Assistant Producer, Mixing -
Eric Marienthal
Executive Album Producer -
Ron Moss
Executive Producer - Dave
Grusin, Larry Rosen
Engineer, Mixing - Bernie
Kirsh
Assistant Engineer - Ira
Rubnitz
Mastering - Bernie Grundman
Photography [Covers] - Glen
Wexler
Photography [B&W] =
Jeffrey Mayer
Album Design - Andy
Baltimore, Dan Serrano, David Gibb,
Ivan Salgado, Dave Kunze
Perfect Debut from an amazing musician soldier from Chick Corea! As a drummer I can't be gladder that Vinnie Colaiuta drumming here and the superb bass player John Patitucci! If you into stuff like David Sanborn, this record if perfect for you, very catchy 80's sax melodies but cheesy without song structure. Some of the tracks sounds like an 80's theme from a sitcom, in the good way with fabulous touch of top-notch musicians. For the prog fans, I recommend to listen to track "Blue Space", and "Harvest Dance" is the best catchy tune on the album, for die hard 80's fusion lovers. ~ Doron Harati, Amazon.com.
