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 SANTANA |
 PROTO-KAW |
 ST. ETIENNE |
 PHIL MANZANERA |
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PAUL McCARTNEY
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SANTANA
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ORBIT Hello Waveforms (Sanctuary)
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PROTO-KAW The Wait Of Glory (Inside Out Music)
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ST. ETIENNE Tales From Turnpike House (Savoy Jazz)
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PHIL
MANZANERA 50 Minutes Later... 6pm (Hannibal / Expression)
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The
reasons why John Lennon chose him as his first songwriting partner are
laid out plain as day on the 2005 solo album from Paul McCartney. A
brilliant showcase for his unerring melodic pop sensibility, Chaos
And Creation In The Backyard is among Macca’s best albums since
Band On The Run and Tug Of War—two albums which
skillfully paired a symphonic rock twist with the ‘50s rock
beats of Holly and Berry. A good indication of where his head is at
these days, the strategically titled Chaos And Creation In The Back
Yard features Paul creating masterfully in the studio with effective
support on targeted cuts from his current guitarists Rusty Anderson
and Brian Ray—both of whom incidentally have both recorded
fine 2005 solo albums. Maybe it’s because Brian and Rusty add a
harder rock edge to Paul’s live sound that Mac decided to go more
for a self-produced sound he first explored in ‘70 on the self-titled
McCartney. In the words of Sir Paul, ‘I did not want to
rush this album, I think the wait was worth it.’ Ever the perfectionist,
McCartney’s backyard excursion yields some amazing musical fruits,
especially the Beatles inspired “Fine Line”, the George Harrison
guitar influence on “Friends To Go”, the Motown meets Mussorgsky
edge of “Promise To You Girl”, more Beatles influence on “Too
Much Rain”, the orch-pop leanings of “At The Mercy” and
the list goes on and on...including a hidden bonus track—an off-beat
instrumental that really rocks. McCartney band guitarists Brian Ray
and Rusty Anderson play acoustics on “Follow Me” while Jason
Falkner lends sonic guitar support on a pair of tracks and an non
album b-side from the sessions. In the same way that Brian Wilson was
able to realize his Smile album teamed with The Wondermints,
Paul could technically create a Beatles for the new century if Falkner,
Anderson and Ray start contributing on further McCartney albums. A FARM
supergroup CD, anyone? Next time round, how about that London-L.A. pop
axis becoming greatly enhanced by a guest spot by Brian Wilson? Chaos
And Creation In The Backyard is the latest textbook lesson in how
to craft brilliant pop music from one of the main players who started
it all. Paul should be commended for his support of the animal rights
group PETA and in the spirit of John Lennon’s anti-war stance back
in the ‘60s, McCartney is an equal advocate for the environment,
human and animal rights in the millennium. 
Feel
like jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge or getting crushed by a tsunami?
Then get an attitude adjustment with a tidal wave of discoid jazz-rock
from classic Latin guitar icon Carlos Santana. Recording at least
a dozen essential desert island album classics over his career, Carlos
Santana changed the music world forever with his now classic ‘69
debut and 37 years later he’s still got the knack for making you
move both body and soul. It’s almost impossible to not be moved
by Santana’s latest Latin rock extravaganza, All That I Am.
Purists still claim he’s sold out mixing R&B, rap and even
dance into his fusion mix but that’s where Carlos has always been
ahead of the pack. Still under the guidance of his first biz mentor
Clive Davis, Santana continues to break new musical ground on
All That I Am. From omnipotent guitar fusion to catchy rock to
you name it in Latin rock, it’s all here to hear on All That
I Am. 
William
Orbit and I spoke on occasion in the ‘80s. Orbit had just broken
out with his pop debut on IRS and I spoke with him about listening to
a couple Lp releases on my record label Breakthru’ Records. A U.K.
artist best described as ahead of his time, Orbit’s ‘80s musical
vision—both his approach to instrumental rock sounds and his work
with numerous great singers—went on to establish him as a leading
producer, most notably producing and coaching Madonna’s most artistic
works. Well, Orbit is back with a new album of his own, now on Sanctuary,
entitled Hello Waveforms that recalls the best of his ‘Strange
Cargo’ instrumental music sound + several cuts with those sultry
female voices, once again from Laurie Mayer, the singer that
sounded so great on his first 1986 IRS album. 
Essentially
Kerry Livgren’s band before Kansas, Proto-Kaw reformed a
couple year back and ending up surprising everyone with one of the great
American prog-rock albums of the new millennium. In early 2006 they
follow up the release of Before Came After with another magnum
opus called The Wait Of Glory. Perhaps the group’s best
part of the Proto-Kaw sound is their ability to combine a soaring progressive
rock approach while paying solid attention to crafting the whole thing
with memorable pop songs. Commenting on the intriguing title of the
album, Livgren adds, “It’s a play on words from a quote by
CS Lewis in which he said, “weight of glory” in which it’s
a very heavy thing. We used ‘wait’ which is again a nod to
how we waited for so long to get where we are now.” Performing
all the guitars and writing much of the material on The Wait Of Glory,Livgren
is in top form blowing out the stacks with assistance from his long
standing band mates including vocalist Lynn Meredith,
sax player John Bolton, drummer Brad Schultz, keyboardist
Dan Wright, and bass player Craig Kew. 
Home
of jazz legends like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane,
the prestigious Savoy Jazz label steps into the pop arena with
the release of the 2005 CD from Saint Etienne entitled Tales From
Turnpike House. Mixing the breathy vocals of Sarah Cracknell
with the multitalented duo of Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs,
Saint Etienne continue to revive the sounds of swinging London with
added hip-hop, smooth jazz, bossa nova and shining Brit-pop influences
like Kirsty MacColl and The High Llamas. The renowned trio has released
numerous albums and singles since the dawn of the ‘90s and and
their 2005 Savoy Jazz CD Tales From Turnpike House is a great
place to discover a swinging Brit-pop legend. 
Truly
one of the most awesome and gifted guitarists of the modern rock era,
Phil Manzanera made his mark as the founding guitarist in Roxy Music.
Also, Phil’s brilliant mid ‘70s album with his band Quiet
Sun, entitled Mainstream, remains one of the most important instrumental
rock albums of the ‘70s and not so quietly ushered in the mid ‘70s
era sound as ‘eurock’—a sound that transcended lyrics
and put the emphasis on creative instrumental fusion. Over the years,
Phil has released numerous vital solo albums and in 2005 he returned
with two killer albums that interestingly, looks back at the psychedelic
art-rock sound of London circa '68.
Combined, the 2004 release of 6PM and the 2005 release
of 50 Minutes Later finds Phil in studio with musical
giants such as his Roxy Music brothers Brian Eno, Andy Mackay
and Roxy drummer Paul Thompson, as well as Pink Floyd guitar
great David Gilmour, space-jazz giant Robert Wyatt and
singer Chrissie Hynde. Both 6pm and 50 Minutes Later
show another side of Phil that not many people have heard—Phil
as a lead vocalist. Commenting on both of these vital CDs, Phil adds
“6pm needed a companion so here it is, it lasts 50 minutes
and has pretty much the same people on it, fellow musical conspirators,
grown up men and women with nothing better to do than get playful with
music in a studio and in their front rooms! We are all part of a new
generation…rock kids that have grown up and continue to make music,
changing the boundaries as we all get older and refuse to go quietly!"
One of the great prog-pop surprises of the millennium, 6pm and
50 Minutes Later are both brimming with Manzanera’s matchless
presence as a guitar hero and songwriting giant. 
