Track Listing

1. If
2. An Open Door
3. Toledo
4. Hoedown
5. Solar Flare
6. Castle Walk
7. Moonrise
8. Pepe Lique
9. Dark
10. Tammuriata
11. Mountain King
12. Cleguerec
13. Doff

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98103 in Music
• Released on: 2005-09-13
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Not their best
There are some things about this album that prevent it being one of Oregon's best.
The first is that with very few exceptions, the tempo of each track seems very "hurried". This is particularly evident in three of the final five tracks making up the Monterey Suite (Cleguerec being the main exception & which goes so far the other way as to be a rather boring percussion/synthesiser tone poem);
Next, there's something very formulaic in this hurriedness, usually involving overly propulsive guitar & equally propulsive winds (& sometimes piano) with very little change of mood, dynamic or colour. On "Hoedown" the same comment applies writ large except that the bass & percussion are the sole instruments. In "Castle Walk" there IS a break in the dynamic but not only does it seem a little contrived but also ultimately no fresh ideas spring from it.
Then there's the oboe - as a general comment it is played simply way too high way too often.
Happily, there are four tracks which belie the above description &, indeed with the exception of the aforementioned Cleguerec these are the standouts - Toledo with a lovely, dancing ostinato rhythm being definitely the pick.
I could be wrong here but I suspect the reason for a lot of 5 star ratings is the relief/joy felt by many Oregon fans when Prime was released. This Band IS undoubtedly worth listening to but they have recorded much better albums than this (eg. Crossing, which incidentally features the original & superior recording of Pepe Linque & the group's latest album, 1000 Kilometres). I'd check these out before "Prime".

Oregon's "Prime" is sadly mistitled
I have been a fan of Oregon's since they surprised me at the 1974 Newport in New York jazz festival. They walked onto the Avery Fischer Hall stage in saffron gowns, grabbing their tablas, sitars, and other Indian instruments, and all I could say to myself was, "Oh, THIS won't be jazz." Their electrifying performance proved otherwise. It was the best set I heard in the entire festival, and Oregon went on to be a progressive force in jazz for many years afterward. However, I found "Prime" to be much like the homogenized music that populates the "smooth jazz" airways. Though their performances are still of virtuoso quality, the compositions on this CD struck me as formless, generic and unmemorable. I will always appreciate Oregon's body of work, but I cannot recommend this CD as one that is representative of their prodigious gifts.

Oregon Evolves
This CD represents what Oregon sounds like now. Oregon is ever-changing and refuses to be stuck in the past. Collin Walcot was a master, but sadly for all of us, he is no longer with us. Unfortunately, some fans just can't move on...Mark Walker was invited to join the band 10 years ago, and is not attempting to play what Collin or Trilok played. Each new ingredient adds a different taste. Enjoy...