so funny this is I've actually owned this LP twice. back in college when I was kinda a jazz snob (and hated rock music...haha) then eventually sold it at some point I think before when I moved away from Indiana. found it used a few months ago real cheap and decided to buy it again. and randomly I keep finding myself coming back to this one often.
this was recorded and released in 1972 right after Jarrett's stint in Miles Davis' electric band. and sorta features the birth of his american quintet (Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Dewey Redman and Paul Motian) plus a couple guests Sam Brown on guitar and Airto Moreira on percussion as well as large string and brass sections. there is a wealth of material here that spans all kinds of genre expectations (i'm guessing the title was kinda a play on jazz criticism at the time). from the beautiful string and piano opener "Visions" to the latin funk of "Common Mama" to the rock tinged "The Magician in You" and on and on including the amazing 17 minute "Nomad" which runs the gamut of jazz and features a lot of great sorta free jazz playing. I even love the tracks when Jarrett switches to soprano sax and duels with Dewey Redman on tenor, even though most critics would tend to pan Jarrett's soprano playing. throughout though you'll only find Jarrett playing piano and a little organ...at this point I think he's forsaken electric keyboards which he began to hate from playing with Miles' electric group.
all in all this is a stellar jazz record that kinda has it all, from free playing to straight ahead soul jazz and all in between. it's not mindblowing by any means but quite refreshing and holds up amazingly well compared to a lot of 70's jazz. listen to it here.
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