Word: cossu
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Scott Cossu...
...Cossu's new album, Switchback, however, tries to push the path of fusion into a new direction. As the title suggests, just as mountain switchbacks take the trail back and forth to reach a certain destination, so is Cossu's music quite repetitive; it is repetitive, however, in an effort to establish a new sound. Cossu achieves a certain originality in his use of cellos and congas in creative percussion sequences...
...dominant instruments on Switchback are piano, played by Cossu, himself, and both acoustic and electric guitar, played by Van Manakas. The first piece on the album, "Desert Lightning," gives a good show of the talents of both musicians. The piece is an upbeat mix of piano, acoustic guitar, bass, flute and percussion instruments. Its tones are high and non-jarring, and the piano and guitar, while usually mixing in or keeping the rhythm in the background, are strong...
...Manakas' electric guitar influence, sounds at times like Dire Straits' "Making Movies." While a great deal of the piece is marked by a rolling placidity, Manakas' guitar solos make "Serpentine Wall" catchy and memorable. "Infinite Circles" follows "Serpentine Wall" with a completely different sound marked by piano and cello. Cossu and cellist Eugene Friesen, who played on the Windham Hill release, New Friend, often mimic each other in a raindrop pattern and also present some haunting harmonies...
Despite the medly of musical styles evident in Switchback's rock, blues, jazz and classical influences, the album flows remarkably well. Cossu has worked hard to create an ablum that is relaxing yet memorable, and with the presence of such talented musicians as Van Manakas and Eugene Friesen, his Switchback has a lot to offer...