One of the untapped musical resources for jazz has been Mitchell songs from the Baby Boomer generation of 1946-70. Oh, sure, you get some Beatles, Dylanm Motown and Mitchell here and there, but for the most part the songs of the Woodstock crowd have been ignored.
Tom Collier not only digs into the unmined cache of that generation’s tunes, but does so in a quite unique way, playing essentially all of the instruments on this album, including (deep breath) electric/acoustic vibraphone, marimba, electric piano, synth bass, drums, organ, and various processed things that go “pluck” in the night.
The arrangements cover the waterfront, as The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” is treated in a reflective solo vibe atmosphere, as is a soft and cirrus cloud read of “Both Sides Now”. With a mix of vibes, marimbas and beyond, there is a tricky and funky treatment of Frank Zappa’s “Magic Fingers” and a trickling ripple of “As Tears Go By”, while the more obscure “Yes It Is” by The Beatles is a gentle chamber piece, and The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” is a nice little boogie.
Eddie McCord brings in his guitar for a soulful and chimey “At Last”, and Ed Kraft lends his bass to a mellow toned “Just A Little Lovin’” just to add some extra color to the palate. Even if you have never had a black light poster or strobe light, the album is strong enough for multiple listening. Far out!