The Starship Orchestra - Celestial Sky (1980) [Japanese Reissue 2009]

Massive massive work from Starship Orchestra – a trio of talents from the Norman Connors universe, but one who get some heavy help in the studio from arrangers Bobby Lyle, McKinley Jackson, and Jerry Peters! There's a real Aquarian Dream sound at play here – all the best energy of Connors' soulful years of the mid 70s, fused into a jazzier vibe overall – played to perfection, yet without any commercial touches at all – a really amazing thing for a major label album of the time! We've loved this record for years, and easily rank it right up there with the most sophisticated grooves of the time – like the best from Roy Ayers or Leroy Hutson, with some echoes of James Mason's wonderful album too. One cut has lead vocals from Joe Saulter – and other players include Lyle and Peters on keyboards, Wah Wah Watson and Paul Jackson on guitars, Don Myrick on saxes, and Louis Satterfield and George Bohannon on trombones. The whole thing's perfect – and titles include "You're A Star", "The Genie", "All Those Things", "Serious Business", and "New York New York".

This is the first time CD release for the classic Jazz Funk album from 1980. While the artist is on the three musicians on the cover, the driving force behind the project is legendary producer Norman Connors who uses a full array of players to deliver his full bodied signature sound. Album includes versions “You’re A Star”; and “The Genie” with composer Bobby Lyle on featured keyboards with an alternative take on his own classic. Meanwhile original tracks “All Those Things” and “Celestial Sky” are among tracks that have made this an iconic album of the period.– Expansion