JEREMY STEIG — Wayfaring Stranger (review)

JEREMY STEIG — Wayfaring Stranger album cover Album · 1970 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
The amazing thing about some jazz sessions is that a one-single day sitting can produce as much as two perfectly excellent albums, and this is what happened in Feb 11, 1970. The even more amazing feat is that both albums were recorded by a very unusual flute-lead trio. Indeed, Jeremy is with his usual trio, that consists of himself (on different type of flutes), drummer Don Alias and bassist Eddie Gomez. Yes, we have here ¾ of the line-up that would record the absolute Something Else gem, once keyboardist Jan Hammer would join them for a double album as well.

Compared to Legwork, Stranger is a bit more adventurous, at least in terms of ethnic influences, but in a jazzier way as well. Tracks like mint tea and waves are typically in the JR/F mode of the era, but in a much sober way, because of the limited trio instrumentation. Nevertheless, this trio manages to sound like quintet, because you’re never bored even so much as a second on WS. Things get a tad more expansive and wild with the superb In The Beginning track, which allows alias and Gomez to strut their stuff with showing off.

What’s truly amazing as well is that a jazz trio, lead by a wind instrument can be so exciting, energetic and rivets you to your seat for the duration. Indeed, Steig’s flute playing is absolutely enthusiastic and full of energy, of course helped out by multi-tracking of his mad flaut. Actually, the overdubs or multi-tracking only renders even more impressive the prowess of recording two albums in one single sitting. It’s difficult to actually recommend either Legwork over Stranger, or the opposite, because both are so excellent, so if you’re willing to make a tad of a sacrifice, you can have an excellent selection from both on the Howling for Judy compilation.
Share this review
more

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

My Ship Hard Bop
WILLIE JONES III
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ice Breaking Post-Fusion Contemporary
DAG ARNESEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Third Stream
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

03 Willie Jones III My Ship #NightIsAlive
WILLIE JONES III
snobb· 12 hours ago
Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 1 day ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 2 days ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 3 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