Airto - Free

Airto has never been much of a leader but the ones that he made for Cti (after becoming known as the sideman for Miles Davis in the late sixties) are classics and fit well into every jazz collectors' collection. He's one of just very few latin jazz performers that headed recordings for Cti.

#1 on this album, "Return to forever" (unsurprisingly written by Chick Corea) is a great fusion piece with an emphasis on Corea's keyboards and the percussion wizzard playing all types of instruments with great effect. Not all that danceable due to its complexity. Awesome stuff though.

"Flora's Song" is (I think) more in the mood of the early bossa nova records (including some acoustic guitar and Hubert Laws flute work). While there's plenty solo space for the musicians, none of them really shine as the percussion/brass section drown them out a bit.

"Free" is simply a (overly) lengthy track filled up to the brim with mysterious sounding instrumental forays and some shouts by Airto. Not quite sure what the point of this song is. Not my cup of tea.

Keith Jarrett (!) adds "lucky southern", a nice, piano based tune with some percussion and flute in the background. Difficult to say something about it as it's with 2:34 waay too short.

"Creek" is an uptempo tune with Joe Farrell and (the underrated IMO) acoustic pianist Nelson Ayres providing nice, lengthy soli. It could be one of the highlights but it finishes with what I hate most in recordings: a fade-out just when the song is at it's height. It could've easily become much better without it.

"So tender" is a very generic, but nonetheless beautiful bossa nova song by Jarrett with him and the brass-section in the foreground. Very beautiful but again a bit short (and again with a #ß$%&§ fade-out, arrrrgh).

"Jequie" is practically in the same, laid-back mood with Farrell Corea playing the soli . It's (again) very, very short. None of the others have the chance to show what they're capable of.


While it's certainly one of the best Cti-albums I'm a bit disappointed by those three short songs that definitely should go on for several minutes longer.
I've had difficulties to find this one on ebay, grab it immediately if you can get it for little money (it seems to be out of print).

Seawind: "One Sweet Night" + "Angels of Mercy" + "Campanas de Invierno"

The Follow-up to their debut is practically in the same vein. It's all here, Pop, Soul, Jazz, Fusion, Funk, Disco and a few times hints towards gospel. Sometimes more accessible ("one sweet night"), sometimes with an instrumental emphasis (wings of love), sometimes laid back and mellow ("Campanas de Invierno"), sometimes funky and uptempo ("Angel of Mercy"). Absolutely essential for every 70's R&B fan. Great vocal parts by Pauline Wilson.

Seawind: "We got a way" + "Roadways" (from "Seawind")

Sorry for not posting lately, I've beed tied in with my studies. :(

This band is (I think) relatively unknown to Jazz Fans but they are nonetheless very interesting for both Cti fans and casual pop music fans alike.

Seawind hails from Hawaii and made some pop-music with
funk and disco-influences and christian lyrics. Most well-known may be the horn section with Kim Hutchcroft who played on George Benson, Jimmy Smith, Patrice Rushen, Alphonse Mouzon albums (among many others) and Jerry Hey, who played and arranged with/for Bill Summers, George Duke, Lee Ritenour, Michael Jackson, etc.

Seawind made two albums for Cti, "Window of a Child" and the debut "Seawind".

"Seawind" begins with a nice laid back funky tune (quote: "The funk will open up the door") called "we got a way".

"You Gotta Be Willin' To Lose" has bad ass bass/guitar intro which is sadly interrupted by a pace change and singer Pauline Wilson's squeaky singing. I wish they would've sticked to the style .

"He loves you" is a nice ballad in a bossa mood (Chick Corea's collaboration with Flora Purim came to my mind).


"The Devil is a liar is the most "complex" one: The song begins in the mood where "He loves you" ended, continues with a short, danceable pop part before it reaches the climax with all instruments in full power.

"A love song" starts with some guitarwork/singing that i associated with a hippie sitting in the grass, singing his song. This is shortlived though. After 1 1/2 minutes it changes to a fully instrumental
setting. It's difficult to describe, it's probably the least interesting one for the fans.

"Make up your mind" is totally different. Four minutes of funky pop/disco (and sadly just spare lyrics) that would've made "Tower of Power" proud.

"Praise" could best be described as instrumental pop. The funky bass is still there, but very subtle.

The final track ("Roadways") is probably the most interesting one for those that are more interested in the Jazz veine of Seawind due to the nice Soprano soli.


This record is all in all very eclectric, both diehard funk/pop fans will find a lot to enjoy but it's also recommended for those that have an ear for fusion.

I've included "We got a way" and "Roadways" to show what the album is about.

Seawind had some legal quarrels with Creed taylor in the past with the result that Cti lost the the rights to the tapes. The albums are nonetheless availbale, but only via the bands website. I'm afraid that I don't find the emails but the I remember that the prices were reasonable. I managed to get a cheap vinyl copy on ebay.

I'll feature the other album shortly..