Victory Jazz Quartet - Origin

Victory Jazz Quartet/Origin Al Moretti: Flugelhorn, Synth Ron Thomas: Keyboard Chico Huff: Electric Bass Glenn Ferracone: Drums Recorded, mixed and mastered by Glenn Ferracone at The Music Centre, Exton, PA Produced by Al Moretti, Richard Burton and Glenn Ferracone Vectordisc 034 All About Jazz CD Review 12/27/2013 by Dan McClenaghan Most of jazz fusion groups of the 1970s threw more instruments into the mix than flugelhornist, Al Moretti does on Origin. His Victory Jazz Quartet finds Moretti with his horn fronting and a simple rhythm section-keyboard, bass and drums. Fusion evolved from trumpeter Miles Davis' In a Silent Way (Columbia Records, 1969), sparkling music woven with a tight tapestry of instrumentation, featuring three keyboards. Moretti's pared-down approach allows the music more breathing room. The title tune opens the disc, on a repeated four note bass riff from Chico Huff. The sparkle is supplied by master keyboardist Ron Thomas. Moretti blows a warm and precise flugelhorn through swirling backdrop of groove and mystery; and drummer Glenn Ferracone lays down a tight time and a slew of idiosyncratic accents. 'Storm King' travels a darker terrain-ominous and furtive, and 'High Time' departs from the fusion muse with a sound that could pass for a bright Hugh Masakela tune, straight out of Soweto. 'Let Me Tell Ya' says get up and dance to Chico Huff's infectious groove; and 'Streamin' Through' sounds as if it's floating in the clouds. Then things get weird, in an excellent way on the fifteen minute closer 'Mystic Traveler/ Orbit'. Opening on an eerie synthesizer drone that migrates into an implacable groove. Ron Thomas shines, and where in In a Silent Way seemed at times like a journey through a field of stars, this tour de force sounds as if it's skirting the galaxy, going in the direction of the dark matter, or perhaps driving deep into the galactic core, in the direction of the black hole. Origin, from Al Moretti and his Victory Jazz Quartet, is an enticing take on the fusion sound.

1) Origin
2) Storm King
3) Sunrise
4) High Time
5) Let Me Tell Ya
6) Streamin'thru
7) Rue Song
8) Mystic Traveler / Orbit