Burden Of Proof (Moonjune Records, 2013)
Guitarist John Etheridge and saxophonist/keyboardist Theo Travis continue the great British jazz-rock tradition with the latest incarnation of Soft Machine Legacy. Burden Of Proof includes a mix of jazz-rock, freeform jazz, blues and the jazz-infused progressive rock from the Canterbury school.
The album opens with a swinging piece, the title cut that resembles some of the grooves developed by Weather Report. Soft Machine was also known for its avant-garde free jazz explorations. Burden of Proof includes some of those journeys at times, such as track 2, “Voyage Beyond Seven’. It’s not my cup of tea, but it will definitely please fans of that genre.
I find the saxophone too loud and dominant in certain tracks. However, when Theo Travis picks up the flute and the Fender Rhodes, and interacts with John Etheridge’s guitar, they create beautiful melodies and mesmerizing atmospheres. Highlights include ‘Ritto’, ‘JSP,’ the heavily Canterburian ‘Black and Crimson’ and the dreamy ambiance of ‘They Landed on a Hill.’
The rhythm section in Burden Of Proof includes two masterful musicians, drummer John Marshall and bassist Roy Babbington.
The Soft Machine heritage is alive well with Soft Machine Legacy’s Burden Of Proof.
Buy Burden Of Proof