BRIAN AUGER — Happiness Heartaches (as Brian Auger's Oblivion Express) (review)

BRIAN AUGER — Happiness Heartaches (as Brian Auger's Oblivion Express) album cover Album · 1977 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
The late 70s were not good years for jazz fusion. Long expressive solos and extended group jam sessions were out of fashion and the various artists invoved in the genre struggled to find a way to be relevant in a changing music scene. On this record, Brian Auger and his band opt for the jazzy RnB of bands like Steely Dan and Tower of Power in an attempt to sound current, and achieve mixed results. The vocal sections are rather mundane, but the instrumental sections really take off sometimes. The group of musicians featured on here make up one of the best bands Auger ever put together. The rhythm section of Lenny White on drums, Lennox Langton on congas and Clive Chaman on bass is capable of hitting some very nimble Latin grooves that past versions of his band could never touch. Auger rises to the challenge thrown down by his lightning quick rhythm section and kicks out many great solos. One of the nicest is the extended spacey electric piano ride at the end of 'Spice Island'.

If this was an instrumental album it would have been one of the better fusion albums of the late 70s, but unfortunately it isn't.

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!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

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

Belonging Post Bop
BRANFORD MARSALIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
III Nu Jazz
ANDORRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Weirdo RnB
EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hiromi's Sonicwonder : Out There Fusion
HIROMI
Buy this album from MMA partners
Kurt Rosenwinkel & Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos : Our Secret World - Live At Cara Third Stream
KURT ROSENWINKEL
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Piero Umiliani - Musica Dell' Era Technologica - 1972 - Full Album
PIERO UMILIANI
js· 1 day ago
Use Of Light: Kurt Rosenwinkel + Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) - Live At CARA
KURT ROSENWINKEL
js· 1 day ago
Emma-Jean Thackray - Wanna Die (Official Video)
EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY
snobb· 1 day ago
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Balloon Pop (Official Audio)
HIROMI
snobb· 2 days ago
Enemy - Sun Flex from 'Fiend' - Kit Downes, Petter Eldh and James Maddren
ENEMY (KIT DOWNES - PETTER ELDH - JAMES MADDREN)
js· 2 days 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
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed