[TR24][OF] Lalo Schifrin - Towering Toccata - 1976/2013 (Fusion)

After scoring an unexpected high-profile success with the disco/jazz fusion of Black Widow, Lalo Schifrin quickly recorded a follow-up album in a similar vein. 1977's Towering Toccata replicates the elegant yet dance-friendly style of Black Widow to the tee, right down to the unconventional cover choices. The best of these is the title track, an insistently rhythmic piece that transforms Bach's gothic-organ extravaganza "Toccata and Prelude in F Minor" into a mid-tempo disco workout that backs up Schifrin's jazzy explorations on the electric piano and synthesizer with scratching rhythm guitar and a pronounced dance beat. Other notable moments on this album include "Most Wanted Theme," which is transformed from action-show theme music into a symphonic funk workout, and "Rollercoaster," a funky vamp from the Schifrin soundtrack of the same name that is ideally suited for Towering Toccata's disco/jazz mindset. There is even another monster-movie theme cover in the vein of the previous album's "Jaws"; this time, it's a disco-friendly treatment of John Barry's "Theme From King Kong" that layers atmospheric horn and flute lines over a bottom-heavy rhythm section fueled by wah-wah guitar and synth bass. However, other tracks on Towering Toccata fail to be as distinctive or adventurous as these highlights. For instance, the original tunes ("Macumba," "Midnight Woman") fit the album's mood but are lacking strong hooks and memorable twists in their arrangements that distinguished the originals on Black Widow. This problem of inconsistent material, combined with the fact that the album is basically a stylistic carbon copy of its predecessor, means that it isn't the ideal follow-up to Black Widow that Schifrin fans might have hoped for. That said, the album has enough strong tunes and enough of a consistent sound to please hardcore Lalo Schifrin fans and anyone who loved Black Widow.

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: October 18, 1976
Burt Collins, John Frosk, John Gatchell (tp); Urbie Green (tb); Joe Farrell (f solo); Jeremy Steig (f); Ronnie Cuber (sax); Lou Marini (sax,f); Gerry Niewood (sax), David Tofani (sax,f); Lalo Schifrin (p solo, key, arr, cond); Clark Spangler (key); Eric Gale, John Tropea (g); Will Lee (b); Steve Gadd (d); Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Charles Libove, Marvin Morgenstern, David Nadien, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi (vln); Lamar Alsop, Manny Vardi (viola); Charles McCracken, Alan Shulman (cello).
a. Midnight Woman

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: October 20, 1976
same or similar, add John Blair (vitar).
b. Most Wanted theme

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: December 20, 1976
same or similar, except Eric Gale, John Tropea (g solo).
c. Theme from King King

same or similar, except Andrew Smith (d) replaces Steve Gadd.
d. Roller Coaster

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: December 21, 1976
same or similar, except jeremy Steig (f solo); Steve Gadd (d) replaces Andrew Smith.
e. Towering Toccata (based on D Minor Toccata & Fugue for Organ) (J.S. Bach) - 5:02
f. Frances' Theme

same or similar.
g. Eagles in Love - 2:49
h. Eagles In Love - 4:42

same or similar, except Jeremy Steig (f solo); Eric Gale (g solo), Steve Gadd ( dahka-de-bello).
i. Macumba - 6:31