Trace s/t
Trace - Birds
OK, what I really want to see is Rick van der Linden and Richard Groove Holmes “Giants Together in Concert.” For a classically trained pianist, VDL definitely has some nice chops, although in the format of the classical trio, you don’t get to hear them nearly often enough. Especially on Trace’s debut, you tend to get quite a few segments where VDL will just lay down big minor chords over the rhythm section, and if that’s not lazy, it’s definitely pretty boring. Everything sounds quite good, a big sound and the Hammond is definitely crunchy. Parts of this remind me quite a bit of the Italians doing the same thing around the time, Le Orme, Latte e Miele and the Trip in particular. But as for the excitement factor, it’s pretty low, except when VDL gives us a solo, which brings me around again to the Giants Together in Concert thing, I’d love to see him put down some of these moves over a soul jazz groove (which makes me think Brian Auger). Anyway, as classical rock goes, most of which I find rather tedious, both these Trace records, the first two of three, are definitely good examples of the format. Birds shakes it up a little more, adds diversity and future Marillion drummer Ian Mosely to the mix, in fact I’d always though of the album as a step down, rather than the step sideways it is. Hard not to give 9s to both really, although fans of the genre are likely to rate both a lot higher. Maybe I’m too much of a guitar man.