Jack Bruce Band / How's Tricks

Jack Bruce Band / How's Tricks

Artist: Jack Bruce Band
Release Company: Polydor
Release Date: 1992/03/01
Catalog Number: POCP2169

This is the fifth album, released in '76. It was released under the name Jack Bruce Band, featuring skilled musicians such as Simon Phillips (dr), Tony Hymas (k), and Hugh Burns (g).

1. A ballad masterpiece that immediately evokes a moody atmosphere. The chorus, reminiscent of a Mellotron, creates a dreamy feeling. The middle section turns into jazz-rock, with Mellotron strings giving a progressive rock vibe, but overall, it feels closer to the later Colosseum. 2. is a great hard rock track with piano and bass. He delivers a pop melody with his voice in top form. 3. is a blues-flavored hard rock song with a chorus reminiscent of Cream. The bassline is also Cream-like. The jazz-style electric piano solo in the middle is a highlight. 4. also features Cream-like phrases, but it's a solo work by Hugh, who sings the vocals. 5. is a ballad masterpiece. It's one of Jack's best vocal performances. The Mellotron and elegant piano are also beautiful. 8. is a welcome, classic blues-rock track. 10. is a masterpiece, a fusion-pop track by Jack (co-written with Tony Hymas and Pete Brown). Colin Blunstone and others have covered it, but this is a must-listen. 11. is a version recorded in '74 with Mick Taylor, Carla Bley, and others, which was first discovered in '03.

The quality of the songs is, as always, superb. The melody lines are slightly less twisted than usual, incorporating American rock and fusion-like openness, giving the impression that he was aiming for a more commercial sound. Unfortunately, it didn't sell well, so it remains somewhat obscure, but the album is highly complete, and I think this work should be considered one of his masterpieces.

By the way, "Jet Set Jewel," released in '03, was recorded with the same members after this album and was shelved due to the poor sales of this album.