A masterpiece of jazz arrangement
Gary McFarland falls into the category overlooked and under appreciated jazz arrangers (along with George Russell, Friedrich Gulda, Phil Nimmons and Lalo Schifrin for a start). His short lived Skye label during the 60â??s (like his too short life) produced a couple of my all time favorite albums. McFarland mixes a great gumbo of orchestral and fusion jazz along with rock guitar, soul grooves and reflective chamber music... often all within the same track. The result is a unique aural experience of the convergence of musical idioms that was a highlight of the era. His polished style has a subtle nuance that requires close listening to appreciate. Similarly, those who dismiss "Smooth Jazz" or "New Age" with a broad brush run the risk of missing some truly unique music... don't miss this classic. Or another Skye classic on emusic, "Dreams" by guitarist Gabor Szabo featuring more of the exquisite shimmering gems of Gary McFarland jazz arrangements.
