...

During the late 70's, a progressive Fusion group called Caldera entered the scene, at the same time that Earth Wind and Fire was continuing their blend of musical genres. Their members eventually began to collaborate--Maurice White and Caldera keyboardist Eddie Del Barrio would co-write "Fantasy" one of EWF's all time hits-and "Miracles"(Powerlight)---

Meanwhile, EWF keyboardist Larry Dunn would co-produce, play and contribute songs to the next 2 Caldera albums, especially "Sky Islands"(1977)--but also "Time and Chance"(1978)....Caldera's last album was Dreamer, in 1979...

Sky Islands also featured the vocals of Philip Bailey's friend Dianne Reeves, who would years later record her own version of the title track for her Blue Note album debut...


Sky Islands




Seraphim




Ancient Source(featuring Dianne Reeves)





Dreamchild



Caldera:

Eduardo del Barrio: acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizers, Moog, Roland, Oberheim Polyphonic

Steve Tavaglione: flute, alto falute, soprano saxophone,alto saxophone, tenor saxophone

Jorge Strunz: acoustic guitar, electric guitar

Mike "Baiano" Azeredo: congas, percussion

Carlos Vega: drums

Dean Cortez: electric bass

Gregg Lee : electric bass

Hector Andrade: timbales, congas, percussion

Jorge del Barrio: String arrangements, conductor


With: Larry Dunn: Keyboards, Synthesizers

Dianne Reeves: vocals on Sky Islands, Ancient Source






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[Edited 5/15/09 9:26am]

Dude, you're killin me!
Stay out of my collection!!
I have several copies of "Sky Islands." It's like gold to me!

tricky2 said:

I kinda figured you did! I'm on my third vinyl copy




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interesting.I gotta find a copy of this.

In 1976,during the sessions for 'Spirit',Earth Wind and Fire also recorded a song called "Seraphim".It was left off the album but re-surfaced years later as a bonus track on the 'Spirit' remaster...



Paligap,is there a connection between the two songs?

SoulAlive said:

Yup, that's the tune--that's Larry's earlier version--I'm guessing that when they decided not to use it for EWF, he brought it to the Caldera project, so they could put their spin on it there...

Caldera w/ (Larry Dunn) - Seraphim








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[Edited 5/15/09 7:05am]

cool

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almost forgot-- the covers for Sky Islands and Time and Chance were done by Japanese artist Shusei Nagaoka, who also did the great cover/gatefold paintings for Earth Wind and Fire (as well as Maze, Electric Light Orchestra, Sun, and others)









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[Edited 5/15/09 11:17am]

Is this album available on CD?

I've got two of their albums, their self-titled effort from 1976 and Dreamer from 1979

SoulAlive said:

unfortunately, no...not even a Japanese import CD....Their first, self titled effort is on disc, and Dreamer got a brief issue in Japan, but Sky Islands and Time and Chance still havent been released on CD...








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SoulAlive said:

As far as I know (from a reliable source ), the master tapes cannot be located. This is truly a jem of an album. Fans of 70's "quiet storm/smooth jazz" (NOT TO BE CONFUSED OR ASSOCIATED WITH late 80's, 90's & 00's smooth jazz! ) really picked up of this album. It got very little airplay and was recognized mostly from word of mouth. I got my first copy from a radio station that didn't want it. As a kind gesture, they gave my a few promo copies of stuff they didn't want or had extras and this was in the bunch. I was very young, but i picked up on it immediately! Being a EW&F fire fan at the time, the only name I recognized was Larry Dunn. So I had to play it. I've been in love with ever since. I miss the days of reading the back of album covers!!!
[Edited 5/17/09 10:36am]

tricky2 said:

Thanks for the info! I think I'll look for their album(s) on my next vinyl dig.

SoulAlive said:

Be sure to pick up their eponymous debut

I will

"Triste" is my fave track of "Sky Islands". A deep composition with beautiful arrangements of strings and flugelhorns :



Hearing it again also makes me sad at moments, when seeing the late Carlos Vega pictured at the cover. He was a great drummer who left our world too soon



Along with the earlier-mentioned Del Barrio-brothers, the band had more great musicians, like horn-player Steve Tavaglione, who released an album in the late-80's/early-90's. Steve also recorded with keyboardist John Beasly and others.
These fusion-productions were imo interesting with experimental,deep & constructive compositions, instead of the laidback & smoother style. There were were cats in this 80's/90's-era who still recorded quality fusionjazz.

Eduardo Del Barrio released a solo-album around 1991 :

http://www.allmusic.com/c...frxqygldse

http://www.interq.or.jp/b...lay_x.html

http://www.juliuswechter....61aa55ad31

http://sudo.3.pro.tok2.co...lay_x.html


[Edited 5/18/09 7:16am]

paligap said:

Great track !
It can also be heard in this special :


[Edited 5/18/09 7:15am]

Shango said:

Kool!! Thanks, Shango!!




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Shango said:

Triste is a great cut!


Steve's one of my favorite horn players (I love that Blue Tav album!)

I also have Eddie's solo album..it's different, but it's kool- solo improvisational piano....


Guitarist Jorge Strunz was also a big part of the group (that's his Santana-like guitar wailing on Triste); he's now part of the duo Strunz and Farrah...I believe the Del Barrios and Steve Tavaglione have played on a couple of the duo's albums....





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[Edited 5/18/09 10:25am]

paligap said:

paligap said:

paligap said:

Man, at the time that it came out, it was heavy on Japanese import but i was so thrilled to eventually find a mint copy on a jazz-fest, a few years after his official release-date.
A wonderful track called "Catalina" appears on that album of Steve, and also another version of that composition was recorded for John Beasley's album, called "Cauldron" ( A worth album to check btw )
John's version of "Catalina" can be heard on his cool jukebox :

http://www.beasleymusic.c...&Itemid=65

paligap said:

Yeah, it's an experimental project. Was very surprised to find this solo-set of him.

paligap said:

Thanks for that info Paligap !
I've seen indeed the duo's groupname printed here and there, but so far never gave it a listen. Will def check out their work
[Edited 5/18/09 8:39am]

Shango said:

I have both versions,too!!
I really like the Beasley album, too, But I like Tav's version of Catalina slightly better, probably because of the way John Pena's groovin' on that Bass!






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[Edited 5/18/09 9:09am]

paligap said:

Yeah, it's interesting how they approach a new improvisation on those versions.
I haven't listened to Steve's album in awhile, but i remember hearing him performing the Electronic Wind Instrument on his album-mix.

John Pena is awesome and his sound is powerful indeed ! He has performed on such a lot of great sessions for many artists. I first heard him on Tania Maria's live album, "Wild".
A few years after that i discovered his contribution with saxophonist Brandon Fields, and saw him also performing live with Brandon's band. Great memories !

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Pegasus








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