KLAUS DOLDINGER/PASSPORT — Ataraxia (aka Sky Blue aka Klaus Doldinger) (review)

KLAUS DOLDINGER/PASSPORT — Ataraxia (aka Sky Blue aka Klaus Doldinger) album cover Album · 1978 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Miler72
This album found Klaus Doldinger ditching the old lineup, so effectively a brand new Passport. This album is a mixed bag, there's a couple of numbers that throw me over the edge, and several experiments that are untypically Passport I really enjoy. A couple of them venture into that dreaded lite-fusion, especially "Louisiana", in fact it borders on smooth jazz. There are some songs on here that remind me a whole lot of instrumental Alan Parsons Project, particularly "Sky Blue" and "Loco-Motive". Given I often enjoyed many of the instrumental stuff of the Alan Parsons Project, I found these songs very enjoyable. I wouldn't be surprised if Klaus Doldinger got a hold of I Robot and decided to record music in the style of that album's instrumental stuff. "Reng Ding Dang Dong" really blows me away, a really strange, unusual electronic experiment that really sounds like nothing I have ever heard from Passport! Strange spacy synthesizers and a cool rhythm to go with it. I was surprised how much of this album I enjoyed, even if a couple of songs are cringe worthy. Much of the Latin influence of Iguacu is gone here, some of the songs here, as mentioned, leans towards the instrumental Alan Parsons Project side of things, one electronic piece, couple that sounds like classic Passport, and a couple of more lightweight numbers. By the way, Ataraxia and Sky Blue are the same release. For some strange reason, Atlantic Records in the States felt it would be better titled Sky Blue, while the international release is called Ataraxia. At least they both bear the same cover and tracklistings.

Of course, albums like Looking Thru and Cross-Collateral are their best albums, this is still worth having for the better material included here.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us