Although it is tempting to think that The Free Spirits (the trio featured on this CD), due to the similarity of the instrumentation (guitarist
John McLaughlin, organist
Joey DeFrancesco and drummer
Dennis Chambers), would be an updating of
Tony Williams's groundbreaking fusion group
Lifetime, the reality is somewhat different.
McLaughlin may get top billing but this music sounds very much like a
Joey DeFrancesco-led
Jimmy Smith revival date with most of the selections being blues-based. There are some introspective moments for the guitarist (who plays strictly electric here) but
DeFrancesco dominates the ensembles and takes the lion's share of the solo space. The music is enjoyable enough although none of the compositions (all but
Miles Davis's "No Blues" are by
McLaughlin) are all that memorable. ~ Scott Yanow