Sunbirds - 1971 - Sunbirds

Sunbirds

1971

Sunbirds

01. Sunbirds
02. Sunshine
03. Kwaeli
04. Spanish Sun
05. Blues For D.S.
06. Sunrise
07. Fire Dance

Ferdinand Povel: Flute
Philip Catherine: Guitar
Fritz Pauer: Electric Piano
Jimmy Woode: Bass
Juan Romero: Percussion
Klaus Weiss: Drums

Based out of Germany in the early seventies this Jazz / Rock / Fusion band released two albums,this being the debut. Love the album cover as well. While these guys were based out of Munich, Germany it should be noted that this was a multi-national band with a Dutch flautist, American bassist and the guitarist from Belgium. It should also be noted that these guys were all seasoned players, all having played in important bands or projects before this. Most were close to 30 years of age when this album was recorded while the American bassist Jimmy Woode was over 40 years of age. Jimmy by the way played piano and trombone before switching to bass and played in Duke Ellington's big band from 1955- 1959. He also played with Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespi and Charlie Parker amongst others. In the book "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg" they had this to say about the SUNBIRDS : "On their debut "Sunbirds" they made a dreamy, yet powerful fusion with an abundance of solos, extensively featuring Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine, and smooth jazz keys from Fritz Pauer, feeling like a spacey EMBRYO cum Miles Davis. It's one of the great timeless fusion albums of the era that really gets the balance right, even when some of the tunes are so catchy that they linger in the mind long after".

"Kwaeli" has a relaxed beat with bass and flute helping out. Electric piano comes in as the tempo keeps picking up and slowing down. So good ! "Sunrise" sounds amzing as the flute plays over top. Crisp drumming as the organ comes and goes. "Spanish Sun" is mellow with flute and bass. It starts to pick up before 2 minutes as a beat comes in then guitar. Great sound ! The guitar stands out before 3 1/2 minutes then the electric piano comes to the fore. It's building.It settles back before 10 minutes to end it.

"Sunshine" is uptempo as the flute plays over top. Nice bass too. The organ replaces the flute and rips it up. The flute is back before 3 minutes. The guitar leads for a while then the flute is back to end it. "Sunbrids" has some atmosphere to start. A relaxing soundscape takes over around 2 minutes. The guitar leads after 3 1/2 minutes then it's the electric piano's turn. Drums dominate after 8 1/2 minutes. "Blues For DS" is groovy baby ! The flute plays over top as the bass,drums and guitar lead the way. Distorted keys before 2 minutes then the flute returns followed by electric piano.

You'll notice the word "sun" in three of the five song titles as well as in the band's name. Well it's because most of the songs they were creating were in E-minor or E-major and E is the so-called sun note in esotericism. Man I like this album, especially the electric piano. Amazing stuff !

Surely the German equivalent to Soft Machine - and in a very good way - teutonic sextet Sunbirds debut album should seriously excite jazz fans who like a bit of the exciting 1970's and furiously inventive fusion movement. Released in 1971 and featuring a line-up consisting of four different nationalities overall - Philip Catherine(guitar), Ferdinand Povel(flute), Fritz Pauer(keyboards), Jimmy Woode(bass), Juan Romero(percussion) and Klaus Weisse(drums) - this impressively-played, mystically-potent psychedelic opus finds the musicians firing-up electric jazz and oddball krautrock invention into a densely cosmic mixture that stretches across the bulk of albums six excellent tracks, colouring each-and-every with a slick, neon-lit fluidity that lights up the complex passages and quicksilver timing There are of course lighter moments, with opening number 'Sunbirds' exhibiting a more conventional streak and slight big-band-bent, yet for most this is very much Soft Machine- meets-Miles Davis 1969 to 1975 'electric' period-meets-Embryo-meets-German underground- of-the-late-sixties. So, highly recommended then. Go Listen. Now.