Fusion music (or jazz-rock) was characterized by virtuoso playing, fast tempos, bombastically heavy sound and complex arrangements. Bands differed in the amount of using those elements, so you had the heavier Mahavishnu Orchestra, the more sophisticated Return to Forever, the funk and groove oriented Tony Williams’ Lifetime, but in essence, they all combined speed, technique, and explosiveness. In the peak of fusion’s popularity, Columbia Records assembled a dream team of jazz rock, named the Trio of Doom. The label brought the musicians together in 1979 to play the Havana Jam festival in Cuba alongside Billy Joel, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and others. Their only live performance was on March 3, 1979, and it is recorded on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79. On March 8, 1979, the group reconvened in New York City to record the songs they had played live, but a dispute broke out between Pastorius and Williams, so the project was discontinued.
An album from these two (studio and live) adventures was released on June 26, 2007, on Legacy Recordings, containing five tracks from Havana Jam and five recorded in the studio. The release begins with the live tracks performed from their 25-minute set including “Drum Improvisation” by Tony Williams. The three tunes written and performed by each member of this band include “Dark Prince” (McLaughlin), “Continuum” (Pastorius), and “Para Oriente” (Williams). The previously recorded “Are You the One, Are You the One?” is the only other extra live track performed that is included. The second half of Trio of Doom are the studio recorded versions of the live tracks. Bonus tracks include 2 very short alternate takes of “Para Oriente.” The music on the CD is pretty much diverse. One can clearly hear the separate influences of the three master-class instrumentalists, ranging from fast and furious to funky and sweet. Williams' drum solo that opens the album is undoubtedly one of the greatest drum solos in the history of recorded music, with absolutely no excess and not a moment of showing off. Critics were mixed upon the CD’s release, but for me, this is one of the finest examples of free-minded, virtuoso flow of ideas. Enjoy!
