Bill Connors - "Assembler" (1987) [1994] @320

Bill Connors Equally adept at acoustic and electric guitar, he has successfully played jazz-rock, free and fusion material in the '70s and '80s. His best solos have been in the jazz-rock mode, where his use of distortion and electronics has been balanced by fine phrasing and intelligent solos. His great moment of fame occured when he was with Chick Corea's Return to Forever during 1973-74, recording the influential Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy. His decision to leave RTF to concentrate more on acoustic guitar may have been satisfying artistically but it cut short any chance he had at commercial success.

Originally released in 1987, Assembler, by guitarist Bill Connors, is one of the most well-rounded and smoking fusion albums ever produced. The CD features a trio of musicians (Connors, drummer Kim Plainfield and bassist Tom Kennedy) who know what fusion is all about. Reviewer Bill Milkowski explains, "Assembler places Connors' flowing, passionate lines in the context of slippery, interactive funk grooves laid down by drummer Plainfield, a master of slick time displacement, and the accomplished 6-string electric bassist Tom Kennedy. The three reach a special accord on originals like the aptly-named "Crunchy", the slamming vamp "Get It To Go" and the soulful, slow moving funk vehicle, "Tell It To The Bass", delivering with hard-hitting rock intensity while navigating the challenging harmonic waters of Connors' compositions. Bill Connors is in rare and ripping form on Assembler."

Jazz fusion guitar fans will recognize Connors as that blazingly explosive and technically precise legato guitarist in Return to Forever who left after one release to pursue a quieter acoustic guitar path. Connors has always been ranked in the upper echelons of fine fusion axe-men. Yet the guitar releases from Connors have come slowly, been severely under-appreciated, and after this release -- it seems no more solo works are ever forthcoming. Let's hope I am wrong.

After leaving Return to Forever, Connors released three excellent acoustic albums in the '70s, did some work with Stanley Clarke on Clarke's solo releases, and played with the Jan Garbarek Group. Connors then returned to releasing hard-hitting yet elegantly soulful electric fusion guitar albums in the '80s. They were shorter length, LP time-length format, offering sonic snippets of Connors' electric visions.



Comparisons can be made easily between this release's guitar stylings to that of Allan Holdsworth's technique. This is not surprising as Holdsworth has always sought that horn sound and flow of John Coltrane and Connors too idolizes Coltrane. Convergent evolution perhaps? Connors has more of a rocking and visceral edgy attack than Holdsworth. His legato phrasing is totally different as well as his guitar voicings. Connors will also lean funky, syncopated, and have more of a groove going on in his compositions. Connors demonstrates he is a guitarists' guitarist with evident passion for his instrument. In conversation with Connors' brother I was told that Bill was always practicing for hours upon hours. It shows clearly on this release. Assembler marked the final electrified release of this triune fusion CD offering of the '80s. Assembler saw an initial 1987 release and then this 1994 re-release on the Evidence label. ~ John W. Patterson.

Bill connor is one of those guitarist, that never loses his fresh approch to music.from his fast riffs in return to foever to his dazzling pharses; complicated yet easy if you know what i mean god bless you bill! By maurice johnson "nile".

One of the most complete sounding fusion albums ever produced. Not well known, but a real jewel. Each musician on the album, there are 3 of them, plays their own melody line. So what you have are three melody line intertwined to make a beautiful sound. Some very high energy cuts "Seacoy" but also some very numbing mellow cuts that make this album one of the greatest "Road Trip" CD's out there.

Bill Connors

Track Listing:

1. Crunchy
2. Sea Coy
3. Get It to Go
4. Assembler
5. Add Eleven
6. Tell It to the Boss
7. It Be FM

Personnel:

Bill Connors (electric guitar)
Tom Kennedy (electric bass)
Kim Plainfield (drums)

*Includes full cover and booklet scan*

Enjoy!
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