Reviewed by DBSilver on 08 Oct 2001
A lighter, jazzier feel describes many of the songs on this recording and version of Passport. Still, it is distinctly the Passport sound - notibly on song 1 - Far Away but permeating the entire CD.
This recording may not be recommended if your primary focus is on the great ROCK-Fusion pieces of the seventies, but if you like good fusion, lyrical music, and an emphasis on the Jazz element it will please. There are fewer demonstrations of 'chops' than on the groundbreaking preformances of the past but in particular, Doldinger (sax) and Paul Shigihara (guitar) play with exceptional sensitivity and vertuosity (Song 4 Hope is a great example of this). Shigara shines again in song 6 Shapes of Light a song that at times sounds like Pat Metheny. This song features a joyful sax part reminding perhaps of Kenny G a bit and it leaves room for a short but nice keyboard interlude. Overall this song demonstrates the perdominate quality of this CD - fun to listen to.
Reviewed by MJBrady on 08 Oct 2001
Doug is right on this cd, this was to become a sort of twilight offering from this once formidable band, that made a following with fusion heads and progheads alike. Gone are the staccato, hyper-triggered riffing, and polytechnic ensemble play, and in comes the "almost" smooth jazz feel. Again, Doldinger has enlisted major talent, yet the energy and inventiveness of the older version are not at all present, though, this does have some very nice compositions for this format of jazz/fusion. It's important to keep in mind the contributions this band made in the melding of prog and fusion, as they were not a trendy band, but a pioneer to the nth degreee.
