I'm just going through the process of transferring my entire music collection onto a Brennan music server. The CD's are easy but the vinyl requires rather more listening, selection and track marking. However, occasionally I come across a real gem that I've not heard for a decade or more. In this case 'Creatures of the Night' by Turning Point.
Turning Point were a jazz fusion quintet that cut two albums in 77 and 78. Instrumentally there are similarities at times to Weather Report, Soft Machine and maybe RTF. No lead guitar though - instead there are keys, saxes and the wordless female vocals of Pepi Lemer. "Oh no" I hear you say, but honestly she was really good, perfectly in tune and effectively another lead instrument that if anything tended to soften the sax.
In my opinion what sorted the men from the boys in jazz/rock was always the rhythm section, and Turning Point's engine room (comprising Paul Robinson on drums and Jeff Clyne on bass) was an absolute joy. Add to that some really infectious solos on both acoustic & electric piano from Brain Miller and you have a real winner. I don't recall them ever achieving real popularity, which is such a shame, but their recordings have recently been digitally remastered from the original tapes and are available on CD for the first time in a 2 disc package. I got mine for 11.50 UKP direct from the Vocalion label - which was less than a quarter of the price Amazon were asking!
Highly recommended!!!
Turning Point were a jazz fusion quintet that cut two albums in 77 and 78. Instrumentally there are similarities at times to Weather Report, Soft Machine and maybe RTF. No lead guitar though - instead there are keys, saxes and the wordless female vocals of Pepi Lemer. "Oh no" I hear you say, but honestly she was really good, perfectly in tune and effectively another lead instrument that if anything tended to soften the sax.
In my opinion what sorted the men from the boys in jazz/rock was always the rhythm section, and Turning Point's engine room (comprising Paul Robinson on drums and Jeff Clyne on bass) was an absolute joy. Add to that some really infectious solos on both acoustic & electric piano from Brain Miller and you have a real winner. I don't recall them ever achieving real popularity, which is such a shame, but their recordings have recently been digitally remastered from the original tapes and are available on CD for the first time in a 2 disc package. I got mine for 11.50 UKP direct from the Vocalion label - which was less than a quarter of the price Amazon were asking!
Highly recommended!!!