JACK BRUCE — Things We Like (review)

JACK BRUCE — Things We Like album cover Album · 1970 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
The second Jack Bruce album is a strange fruit in his discography. After the success of his debut, "Things We Like" sounded obviously out of place, and its in a style he never returned to in his solo albums. There is none of his usual rock or blues related music to be found here - only post-bop mixed with free jazz in the form of long improvs with fusion flavor!

No mystery here though - the material for all of this album comes from the summer of 1968 when Jack Bruce (still being a Cream member) recorded some his compositions with his ex-collegues from the Graham Bond Organisation - John McLaughlin (guitar), Jon Hiseman (drums) and Dick Heckstall-Smith (sax). The result is a collection of quite unfocused compositions, musically similar to Surman/McLaughlin's "Where Fortune Smiles" album, released the same year.

Not a great release, this album is a really interesting example of a very early Jack Bruce (and John McLaughlin) musical experiment and their roots in 60s jazz. Jon Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith's musicianship is of great quality and possibly the album's weakest point is the raw and unfinished compositions.

This could be recommended for every serious Bruce/McLaughlin fan, but far not the release for casual Jack Bruce blues-rock fan.

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