It's reissues like this that give every fusion fan goose-bumps, and justify the reason why those still into CD's are hardcore collectors of fine art at heart. Transitory, the 1974 release from Jasper van't Hof's supergroup fusion ensemble Pork Pie, is an amazing slice of Dutch jazz-rock, easily as exciting as what acts were producing over here in America at the time (Return to Forever, Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra), and an album that has held up quite well over the years. Never heard of Pork Pie? Well, don't feel bad, I'm sure many other fusion lovers haven't either, and that's a real shame. Jasper van't Hof is a well known keyboard player on the jazz and fusion scene in the Netherlands, and he put together Pork Pie with guitarist Philip Catherine, sax/flute player Charlie Mariano, bassist J.F. Jenny-Clark, percussion player Ivanir "Mandrake" Do Nascimento, and drummer Aldo Romano in 1973.
Pork Pie is presented in a wonderful mini-lp gatefold sleeve design, with a thick booklet containing extensive liner notes and some photos. The 24-Bit remaster treatment is astounding-this is easily one of the best sounding 70's fusion releases I have heard in some time. "Epoch" blasts through your speakers with plenty of sonic force, Mariano's squonking sax interrupted by plenty of spacey Fender Rhodes lines from van't Hof (recalling Corea at his most adventurous), all the while the blistering drum work of Romano flailing away in the background. The two-part title track features lots of spooky keyboard effects, flute, and soul searching sax, while "Angel Wings" is a more melodic, groove laden jazz piece, Jenny-Clark's rumbling bass lines providing a solid groove for Catherine's stinging guitar lines and Mariano's soaring flute. Elements of free-jazz pop up on the raucous "Pudu Kkottai", recalling Ornette Coleman's early work, which is followed by the intoxicating sounds of "Something Wrong", littered with swirling electric piano, husky sax work, and slippery bass lines. Sort of like a mix of Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra on that one. The two-part "Bassamba" is a wild vehicle for Jenny-Clark on the acoustic bass (man, this guy can play!), which quickly morphs into a funky fusion vamp with all the players locked in. The album ends with the rocking "March of the Oil Shieks", an almost King Crimson meets Weather Report barnburner, Catherine laying down shards of Frippian guitar licks over tight fusion rhythms and spacey electric piano.
Pretty remarkable stuff all around, from the packaging to the actual music itself, so if you are a fan of 70's fusion, this will be a must have in your collection.
Track Listing
- Epoch
- Transitory (Part 1)
- Transitory (Part 2)
- Angel Wings
- Pudu Kkottai
- Something Wrong
- Bassamba (Part 1)
- Bassamba (Part 2)
- March of the Oil-Sheiks
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