(Fusion, Jazz-Funk) [CD] Reggie Lucas - Survival Themes - 1975 (2015 Japan Edition), FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Up until now, Reggie Lucas has been best known for: 1) his creative, funky rhythm guitar work (and occasional soloing) in Miles Davis' 1972-75 ensemble, and 2) his production work and songwriting for the likes of Madonna, Mtume, Stephanie Millls, and Phyllis Hyman (often paired with fellow Miles alum James Mtume). 1975's all-instrumental SURVIVAL THEMES finds Reggie seemingly on the move from the former to the latter, with one foot planted in both areas. The extended title track offers a suite of four Lucas/Mtume guitar/percussion duets. The approach has similiarities to Miles' challenging AGHARTA/PANGAEA albums. The first three duets are semi-ambient explorations of melodic themes (ala some of the quieter passages on the before-mentioned Miles albums)...it sounds as if Lucas overdubbed a second guitar much of the time. The final "theme" offers a Hendrix-like sonic explosion (at first sounding a bit like Jimi's `Voodoo Chile', then quickly building to a Pete Cosey-like fury) over Mtume's electric percussion washes. This storm is far from quiet.
In contrast, the first three tracks offer a relatively conventional brand of funk-jazz that seems to find a mid-point between Miles' radical mid-70s period and the more radio-friendly music of the likes of Norman Connors...perhaps not as visionary as Herbie Hancock but with more bite than the crossover efforts by the likes of Donald Byrd and George Benson issued during this era. These tracks add drums (Howard King), bass (Michael Henderson, Anthony Jackson), keyboards (Hubert Eaves), and a horn section (on SLEW FOOT) to the core duo of Lucas and Mtume. TENDER YEARS has some mellow axe work by Reggie, while THE BAREFOOT SONG starts out quite smooth, but before you know it considerable heat is generated via extended solos from Lucas (reminds me a bit of Santana, but not a clone) and presumably Henderson (very funky and explorative at the same time). Recommended particularly to fusion-era fans who'd like to hear Davis' 1970s musical approach backed off to varying degrees from the cutting edge...but not quite into a safety zone.
-- J. Lund

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The bassist on "The Barefoot Song" is almost definitely Anthony Jackson-- he does some of the same double-stop (two notes in harmony) techniques on Michal Urbaniak's 'Fusion III' album. This was early in Jackson's career, years before his work with Steve Khan's Eyewitness band, and he was already a very imaginative player.
I've had 'Survival Themes' on LP since the early '80s, and this review summarizes it very well. Fans of Santana's exploratory early- '70s work should enjoy "Season of the Monsoon". As for "Electric Reflection"-- well, it sounds like Lucas was finally able to cut loose as he never could when teamed up with Pete Cosey... and does he EVER cut loose!
Oh, Lucas also has some fine playing on Kochi's 'Wishes' album, another East Wind album from the same period. It's too bad both records are so prohibitively expensive (at least for us Americans) in CD format!
-- urgeking