Recurring dream (Space Case) (LP 2037 - 2039)

Space Case  Executive Decision (CD, Alma Jazz, 1981) *****

Space Case  Space Case Two (CD, Alma Jazz, 1983) ****  

Space Case  Space Case Three (CD, Alma Jazz, 1985) ****   

Genre: Jazz fusion

Places I remember: sale bin  at JB Hi-Fi (Palmerston North)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: For The Love Of You (Executive Decision)

Gear costume: Knight (Executive Decision) - sounds like it could easily soundtrack an American eighties cop movie. That's a good thing btw.

Active compensatory factors: Widely regarded as New Zealand's best jazz rock fusion band, the band is made up of some heavy weights of NZ music:

Space Case: Murray McNabb (keyboards); Brian Smith (various saxes); Bruce Lynch (bass); and tying everything together magnificently - Frank Gibson Jnr (drums).

The vast majority of material on these three albums came from within the band - with each person composing at various points.

The music is wonderful throughout. Tight when required, but space is given to each instrument in the mix as well.

Executive Decision (a.k.a. Space Case One) is the pick of the bunch: it's made up of McNabb and Smith compositions, so Smith's wonderfully expressive tenor and soprano sax and McNabb's understated keyboards are prominent. Brilliant arrangements too.

Two and Three are also superb, but I have deducted a star for each as the drum solo tracks don't do much for me on repeat listening.

Where do they all belong? In the jazz fusion section where they stand out!