Live in Paris

*Short history*: Re-released recording of a complete live concert from Paris, May 2nd 1972, not long after Wyatt's departure from the band in late 1971. Nor are founders Ayers and Daevid Allen still around. The Soft Machine incarnation captured on this album was a short-lived one with Dean, Hopper, Ratledge (original member) and with John Marshal in Wyatt's drums seat. Dean left the band shortly after.
*The music*: If you don't know SM, they are the best-known and one of the most influential avant-garde jazz-post-rock improvisational jam bands. They often draw comparisons and influences from Zappa, and Miles' work from that period (Jack Johnson, In a Silent Way). This album was recorded after the release of Fifth, the so-numbered studio album. It doesn't stray much from the SM format although the sax is certainly more heavily featured, and the music is somewhat less dense. Now excuse me, I have to run and see my dealer.

My favorites were on disc 2, tracks 2 and 6. But they are all good. Warning: track breaks are often quite arbitrary; you may have to fade out manually.

**CD 1**
1. Sax solo w/drums – continues into next track.
2. Bass enters, sax intensifies, picks up and jams! Mellow keyboard ending.
3. Dark bass, very 1972-Miles, night jam. Energetic finish (again goes into next track – the applause are found there).
4. Starts with applause from prev track. Dominant keyboard in intro, then high energy jam begins.
5. Sax solo, mellow backdrop. Goes right into next track.
6. Starts like 5, picks up tempo 2 mins in, explores. Ends w/ applause.

**CD 2**
1. Starts w/applause. Breezy, loooong, mellow. Ends w/ applause.
2. *Dramatic, playful, weird collage of sound starts rocking half way in. Great!*
3. Nightly intro, loud drums burst segment into long sax solo.
4. Finally a drum solo! (not that it makes me happy or anything, but I was wondering about it).
5. sax, drums, 1:20 of applause at the end.
6. *Encore: mellow sax jam, kool! 16 secs applause at end.*