E.E.R.

Lew Soloff, Rainbow Mountain (72:31)
32 Jazz 32198, 2000
Phone: 800-771-9553
E-mail: Thirty2@aol.com

A sharp departure from 1999's acclaimed With a Song in My 
Heart (Milestone), which featured Soloff in a rare straightahead 
jazz setting. This outing, in contrast, features no fewer than four 
songs from the classic rock canon: Creedence Clearwater Revival's 
"Susie Q" and "Born on the Bayou," Jimi Hendrix's "Up from the 
Skies," and - no kidding - Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." One 
almost wonders why they left out Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird." 
Seriously, Soloff and crew have a lot of fun with these, especially 
the Hendrix tune, which used to be a staple of the Gil Evans 
Orchestra's repertoire when Soloff was a principal member. Even the 
supermarket-ready reading of "Stairway to Heaven" has its rewards - 
Lou Marini playing the opening counter-melody on a real flute instead 
of a mellotron, for instance.

The rest of the program consists of solid if unremarkable fusion and 
jazz, with saxman Lou Marini contributing the three strongest 
compositions: "Quiero No Puedo," "Starmaker," and "Don't Speak" (not 
to be confused with the No Doubt song of the same name). Guitarist 
Joe Beck penned the challenging "Tout Va Lews," during which Soloff 
plays a great solo. Bassist Mark Egan brought in the funk finale 
"Frog Legs," which features another strong trumpet solo and 
impeccable rhythm and lead guitar work from Beck. Drummer Danny 
Gottlieb is in fine form on all these tracks.

Soloff brings in a tribe of guest stars for the adventurous yet 
meandering title track - synth and vocal man Delmar Brown (who wrote 
the tune), guitarist Hiram Bullock, bassists Will Lee and Chulo, 
drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, trumpeter Miles Evans (Gil's son), and 
even Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer on Hammond organ. The tune is a 
peppy mix of world-pop and funk, with some over-the-top wah guitar 
from Bullock. Although it works as a sort of groove-oriented 
centerpiece for this stylistically far-flung album, it goes on far 
too long. A little more direction would have helped. ~David R. Adler



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