DON BURROWS — The Tasman Connection (review)

DON BURROWS — The Tasman Connection album cover Album · 1976 · World Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
'The Tasman Connection' is a richly textured album. It reaches out to half a dozen jazz sub-genres and movements and pulls them together under the leadership of Don Burrow's clarinet and flute.

Echoes from a variety of artists or periods can be heard, Hancock's 'Head Hunters' era in opener, 'The Tasman Connection' or the hint of Wes Montgomery in 'Remember When' and in Golla's playing throughout. There's even a little bit of free-jazz dissonance in 'Don't Contact Us', which is coupled with the interesting sound of Burrows playing an electric clarinet. There are certainly other examples, like the snappy pop of 'Get Into It' but the thing about Australian Jazz during the period seems to be a wonderful inclusiveness, one that reveals an impressive array of talented musicians able to work within a wide range of sub genres. It can easily be argued that albums like 'The Tasman Connection' are derivative, but I imagine this to be part of the point, and part of the nature of fusion itself.

From the standpoint of mood, a significant portion of the album seems to focus on evoking the beach and seascapes (aided, of course by the sleeve) or at least, the famous 'laid back' Aussie stereotype, though this probably constitutes reading a little too much into the often (pleasantly) languid feel to some of the material, achieved by gentle washes on the cymbals and flute and vibes or electric piano, as in 'Long White Cloud' or 'Blues Crossover.'

For someone looking to explore Australian jazz in the 70s, this is a great place to start. If you sample the title track, do not expect the whole album to have that funk-edge, as 'The Tasman Connection' is a more varied release overall. Burrows does not generally employ an aggressive soloing style, but instead has a lighter touch. Clearly, Don is also a fine composer, though the best way to find out for yourself is to try hunt down a copy and check it out. Four stars.
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