GABOR SZABO — Nightflight (review)

GABOR SZABO — Nightflight album cover Album · 1976 · Pop/Art Song/Folk Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
js
Although Gabor Szabo was one of the first jazz artists in the mid 60s to play what we now call ‘fusion’, his name has just about disappeared into obscurity, which is a real shame. Gabor was a top notch guitarist and innovator combining different elements in his music and joining with Chico Hamilton to make some of the very first jazz fusion albums. Unfortunately, Gabor had long running problems with drugs and alcohol, which is why his life ended at a fairly young age, and also possibly why he is not honored and remembered as much as he should be. His life just ended too soon for him to make a lasting impression on the jazz world. Although he made many excellent albums in the 60s and early 70s, by the time 1976 rolled around, he was being pressured by the disco fad to come up with something more commercial, which led to this very well made, but also very commercial album, “Night Flight”.

In 1976, fellow jazz guitarist George Benson came out with his hugely successful album, “Breezin”. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Gabor‘s “Night Flight” soon followed. Obviously Gabor and the people around him thought they might have a chance to come up with a similar success following the Benson formula of orchestrated art pop with a touch of disco and plenty of tasty guitar solos to go around. Those CTI/Don Sebesky arranged lush orchestrated pop jazz records of the time were probably an influence as well. “Night Flight” is not a cheap hastily arranged album at all. A lot of work went into the arrangements, orchestrations and production of this album. It really has a nice full sound, but the music is fairly commercial and not what the average Gabor fan is looking for.

There is one killer track on here, the very funky “Baby Rattle Snake”. This would be a great cut for that DJ looking for something that no one else has. The rest of the album is okay, but not particularly remember-able. On the plus side, all through the album Szabo lays down an endless stream of guitar solos with a mix of bop swing and RnB rhythmic punch.
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