Tom Scott

Torn Scott & the L.A. Express. Toni Cat,

 A & M Records, SP 77029

    These guys seem like the kind of jazz/rock musicians who are probably most comfortable in a small club packed with smashed dance freaks. They combine elements of' Weather Report, Motown, late sixties Cannonball Adderly with straight up rock and roll and come up with very danceable and fairly exciting music. The album guarantees a good time. Unfortunately , it comes across as more derivative than innovative. Tom Cat seems pitched at play-list quasi-underground station a kind of top forty, easy listening formula fusion music rather than a serious attempt to explore new areas in jazz and rock.

    The pieces on the album are all very brief. There isn't a cut over five minutes long. There are nine pieces on the album seven up-tempo and two mood pieces. The last two, "Day Way" and "Love Poem" are far and away the most interesting on the album but don't get anywhere near the extended treatment they deserve. The same goes for three of the up numbers, "Keep On Doin' It", "Back Fence Cattin" and "refried" being really reminiscent of Adderly when Joe Zawinul was playing with him. Nice, funky stuff, and really fine, soaring guitar work.

    I would have preferred sacrificing one oi two of the other lightweight numbers in exchange for more developments of the rest. I don't think that's what they wanted and the result is an album which is danceable and playable. There's nothing wrong with it, there's just not much new to it.

                    --- Alan Neff