TRAFFIC — When the Eagle Flies (review)

TRAFFIC — When the Eagle Flies album cover Album · 1974 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
seyo
This album is usually under-rated even by the fans of the band. It is no wonder, because TRAFFIC split after its release and the fact that it came out after the series of excellent albums ("John Barleycorn", "Low Sparks" and "Shoot Out"). But, repeated listening unveils some wonderful moments, particularly the trio of "Dream Gerrard", "Graveyard people" and "Walking in the Wind", which could have fit on any of above mentioned highlights.

The sound is even more close to jazz rock than on previous efforts, with considerable soul and blues moments. Winwood adds several nice synthesizer solos (Moog?) and Mellotron sounds, while the newcomer Gee plays a funky/reggae style of bass, very rhythmic and melodic. Capaldi is in full form as drummer and lyricist, while Wood again shows that he was one of shamelessly most neglected sax players in rock world, playing with a confident jazz-attitude and using electronic effects.

True, the songwriting and arrangements are not on par with what you might expect, and "Memories of Rock'n'Rolla" and "Love" are so lame and too easy-listening soul ballads. But, overall the album "When the Eagle Flies" definitely deserves your attention.

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

Preservation Brass : For Fat Man Original New Orleans Jazz
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
Borderless Hard Bop
BRIAN CHARETTE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Arboresque Post Bop
ARTEMIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Motherland Post Bop
DIETER ILG
Buy this album from MMA partners
Eddy m'a dit Fusion
EMMANUEL BEX
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Kinetic
BLACK FLOWER
js· 11 hours ago
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra feat. Scarlett Johansson - The Best is Yet To Come
JEFF GOLDBLUM
snobb· 1 day ago
I'm Just Say'n
JOE MCPHEE
snobb· 1 day ago
Cymande - Chasing An Empty Dream (Official Visualiser)
CYMANDE
snobb· 1 day ago
Piero Umiliani - Musica Dell' Era Technologica - 1972 - Full Album
PIERO UMILIANI
js· 4 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