Aurora Borealis - 1982 - Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis
1982
Aurora Borealis With Mitch Dematoff

01. Paradise Express
02. Nightfall
03. Crazy Maze
04. Lady
05. In Search Of
06. What's Your Status

Bass – Bunny Brunel (tracks: 05), Gene Barrio
Drums – Dan Pucillo Jr. (tracks: 1,6), Tom Brechtlein (tracks: 2,3,4,5)
Effects – Jimmy Cricket (tracks: 2)
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Mike Langeland
Keyboards – Mitch DeMatoff

Percussion – Mike Fischer

Jazz pianist Mitch Dematoff formed Aurora Borealis in late-70's, after touring alongside Chick Corea.This short-lived band (with Mike Langeland on guitar, Gene Barrios on bass and Dan Pucillo Jr. on drums) recorded this eponymous, smoky Fusion album in 1982, which contains rich, fast and period Jazz Fusion with nice guitar soloing, Dematoff's fiery plays on piano and keyboards and the interesting bass work of Barrios.Talented but a bit sterile drumming for my tastes, epsecially when talking about a Jazz Fusion record, but the music is shiny, efficient and rewarding, albeit without much new to offer to the scene.

Obscure fusion platter from this (presumably) Los Angeles based group led by keyboardist DeMatoff. Largely excellent high-flying instrumental fusion in the classic RTF mold. The last couple of tracks in particular are absolutely blazing, one of which features a guest spot by Bunny Brunel. Strongly recommended to fans of stuff like Proteus, Spaces, Apprentice, etc.". And really that's all there is to say. I could throw in perhaps Child's Play as another reference, an album we featured recently here. As well as Momentum, Genre, and others of its ilk. It's on the border of fusion and progressive rock. It starts more in a typical early 80s jazz rock mode, but as The AC notes, it really picks up from there. There's some smokin' guitar leads here!