Jan Hammer: Night
Musicians:
Jan Hammer (keyboards, drums), Jerry Goodman (violin, viola).
Composed by Jan Hammer & David Earle Johnson
.Recorded: Nederland, Colorado, 1974
Rating: 90/100 (learn more)
The first record Jan Hammer made after the original Mahavishnu broke up was Like Children with fellow Mahavishnu bandmate violinist Jerry Goodman. "Night" originally appeared on that record and reappeared on The Early Years, a "best of" Jan Hammer compilation released in 1986.
"Night" is a dark dream of solitude. Hammer mostly stays in the background with well-placed keyboard accents and basslines as Jerry Goodman provides soaring lines that impart an air of deep mystery. The melody is hauntingly beautiful. Hammer occasionally adds his own moody atmospherics through use of a synthesizer that sounds like a brother to the violin. About three-quarters of the way into the song, Hammer starts drumming away as the two master musicians play off each other. This music represents those secret dark thoughts that only appear when we are surrounded by our demons that visit us in the night.
Reviewer: Walter Kolosky
Tags: 1970s jazz · fusion
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