Passport – Cross-Collateral. 1975.
Passport – Infinity Machine. 1976. Passport are one of the most known European fusion bands in the US, having obtained a steady stream of domestic releases through the Visa imprint. Their jazz background gives them a distinct sound and approach verse the many rock bands that attempted to incorporate the complexities of jazz into their music. “Cross-Collateral†catches Passport at their peak of fusing rock and jazz. Doldinger is a world-renowned sax player, so naturally he dominates the proceedings. “Infinity Machine†is a fascinating experiment, which allows the listener the opportunity to fantasize what it would’ve been like had Tangerine Dream released a jazz album. Why you may ask? Check out the sequencers that dominate one half of the album.
Ruphus – Let Your Light Shine. 1976. Norway’s Ruphus were one of the many bands to adopt the fusion genre, following the success of groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Passport, Weather Report and, maybe more to the point, fellow Scandinavians Secret Oyster. Ruphus started their career in the “UK heavy rock†bag, sometimes referred to as the Vertigo School of rock. Their second album “Ranshart†was an overt attempt at cashing in on the symphonic prog movement, especially the sounds of Yes. “Let Your Light Shine†is the beginning of their jazz rock stage, with some tight playing by all involved. The female non-lyrical vocals are a nice touch. Not too far from the “M†groups in Germany like Morpheus or Munju, though perhaps a bit more generic.