Double feature: “It’s Love” and “Galaxy” February 2, 2012

Tuesday was doubly good to Eric Marienthal and Jeff Lorber.  Eric’s solo album, It’s Love, was released, and so was Galaxy, the album for Eric’s other band, The Jeff Lorber Fusion.  Both have a presence on each other’s albums, which I received via UPS yesterday evening.

After getting my Grover Washington, Jr. albums out of the way, I spent today listening to Eric and Jeff’s works.  We’ll start with It’s Love, produced by Chuck Loeb.  Chuck was on all but one of the ten tracks, wrote one, and co-wrote two with Eric.  Jeff Lorber appeared on four and co-wrote one with Eric.  Russell Ferrante of Yellowjackets appeared on five and also co-wrote one with Eric.  Jimmy Haslip, formerly of Yellowjackets and currently of Jeff Lorber Fusion, played bass on four tracks.  Brian Culbertson co-wrote and appeared on the last track.  The tracks are as follows:
1. Get Here (Brenda Russell cover) (4:29)
2. In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington cover) (5:20)
3. Can’t Buy Me Love (The Beatles cover) (5:49) – This is a radically different arrangement than the original.  I call it a Beatles bossa nova.
4. It’s Love (5:51)
5. Two In One (6:21) – This has what I consider the vintage Chuck Loeb sound, which makes sense since he wrote it.  I love the call and response in the latter part.  That will be a blast if it’s played live.
6. Costa Del Soul (5:20)
7. Babycakes (4:41)
8. Café Royale (6:00)
9. St. Moritz (5:25)
10. When I Found You (4:20)

And then there’s The Jeff Lorber Fusion’s Galaxy; not to be confused with Galaxian, the Fusion’s 1981 release.  In addition to new compositions, three original Fusion tunes and one Jeff solo tune are redone.  Eric Marienthal appears on nine tracks, Jimmy Haslip appears on seven.  The tracks:
1. Live Wire (7:03) – They start the album off with a bang here.
2. Big Brother (4:50)
3. Montserrat (4:58)
4. Singaraja (4:37) – Featuring Randy Brecker on trumpet
5. Galaxy (5:17)
6. City (4:29) – First heard on Wizard Island (1980).
7. Horace (5:34) – Dedicated to Horace Silver (2/13 UPDATE: The end is reminiscent of “Hudson” on Jeff’s 2007 album, He Had a Hat; a reprise, even.)
8. The Samba (4:49) – First heard on Soft Space (1978).  The original led with Terry Layne on saxophone, but this time, sax is traded for Larry Koonse on guitar.  The percussion isn’t as wild as in ’78.
9. Rapids (4:26)
10. Wizard Island (4:50) – First heard on Wizard Island (1980).
11. The Underground (4:39) – First heard on Jeff’s long-awaited solo album (seven years after his last one), Worth Waiting For (1993).; featuring Randy Brecker on trumpet.  An album that started with a bang ended with one.

I love both albums.  They are superb from start to finish.  For approximately two listening hours, I was in heaven.  I wish more people from my generation appreciated this genre as much as I do.