A Lesser Known and Underrated Fusion Album
08/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Street Beat" is a great album, and unlike most in the Tom Scott catalog. It features a West-Coast cast (Jerry Peters, Russ Ferrante, Neil Larsen, Buzz Feiten, Neil Stubenhaus, Jimmy Haslip, the late Jeff Porcaro, Chuck Findley, and Slyde Hyde, among others), rather than the New York rhythm sections Tom had been featuring in his recordings from 1975 through 1978.If you love Tom's overdubbed sax sections and would like to hear crunching, distorted rock guitar situated in a pristine L.A.-style production, grab this album. Guitarist Carlos Rios is featured on most cuts (in both rhythm and solo roles), and this alone makes the album worth getting.Some listeners may be surprised to hear the go-go/hip-hop feel of the title tune, considering it was recorded in 1979. Great melody and great solos. "Greed" is one of two vocals in the album, but very well done. Not a fluff tune, IMO. Tom's solo features some cool alternate-fingering stuff. Other tunes range from sweet ballads to breezier L.A. stuff to rock-edged fusion.Those who dislike fusion won't find anything here to change their minds about it, but those who like the harder stuff (rather than say, Grover Washington, Bob James, and '80s GRP albums) will dig this album. It's been one of my favorites for 20 years, and although I listen mostly to straight-ahead jazz now, I think "Street Beat" has stood the test of time quite well."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1