Manfred Schoof - Meditation (1987)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Jasper van 't Hof - Eye-Ball (1974)

Manfred Schoof / Rainer Brüninghaus - Shadows & Smiles (1989)

A curious entry in Manfred Schoof's discography. Airy, synth-heavy, mid-tempo grooves and drifting, reverberating trumpet, at times receding into full, new age-y ambience. Meditation definitely veers very close to smooth jazz, especially on the pillow-y "Timecode". Elsewhere, the title track sounds like something that would have lurked on the back half of Moby's Play, and "Robot" pitches a soundtrack for a PG-13 cut of The Terminator. Strange that it was released as a Manfred Schoof solo album as it is quite clearly a collaborative effort with keyboardist Jasper van 't Hof, the only other musician credited.

Track listing:

1. Meditation

2. Clouds

3. Timecode

4. Robot

5. Silence

6. Zen

Speak to me, baby

In the middle of the night

More smooth sailing:

Carlo Maria Cordio - Shadows and Memories (1979)

Jack DeJohnette featuring Lester Bowie - Zebra (1985)

George Russell - Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature (1969)

Two extended avant-garde jazz workouts led by American pianist George Russell, and recorded in concert in 1969 (the "1968" on the cover refers to when the pieces were written.) Anxious and dynamic, with darkly psychedelic undertones. When my brain is overworked and full of numbers, this is how I relax. Includes early performances from future ECM heavyweights Terje Rypdal, Jan Garbarek and Jon Christensen.

Track listing:
1. Events 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
2. Events 7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Honesty