BENNY MAUPIN - MOONSCAPES






















Benny Maupin for Mercury from 1978.
Bennie Maupin : soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone,bass clarinet, flute, Eu synthesizer computone synthesizer winddriver,bass marimba, glockenspel
Bobby Lyle : acoustic piano, electric piano, clavinet
Harvey Mason : drums
Michael Sembello : acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Abraham Laboriel : bass
Mingo Lewis : congas, miscellaneous percussion
Onaje Allen Gumbs : electric piano (on 5,6)
Beverly Bellows : harp (on 2)
Patrick Gleeson : synthesizer programming
Derrick Youman : vocal colors (on 4)

Produced by Pat Gleeson
All selections written by Bennie Maupin, except
Track 5 written by Onaje Allen gumbs
Arranged by Bennie Maupin, except track 5 by Onaje Allen Gumbs
Tracks 3,4,6 co-arranged by Onaje Allen Gumbs
Recorded at Conway Records, Inc., Los Angeles
Mixed at Different Fur, San Francisco
Recording Engineer : Steve Montoani / Additional Engineering : Seth Dworken
Mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank / Mastering Engineer : Johnny Golden
Phonogram/Mercury A&R : Gerry Hoff
Front Cover Collage : Betye Saar / Design : Desmond Strobel
Photographer : Jonathan Exley

Here's a pretty accurate write up from yofriend who reviewed this at rateyourmusic:
Moonscapes was released a year after his first Mercury album, and it would remain the last album Bennie Maupin was to release for that label, the last album at all as a leader, really. This time, he recorded a more formalized Jazz fusion album. Rock isn't part of the formula, but Funk isn't, either, in spite of the occasional funky bass lines here and there. With the song Just Give It Some Time, Maupin made a concession to the contemporary crossover audience. As for the rest, the listener will find a collection of ambitious electric Jazz music. Even though it was not quite as consistent as the last record, Moonscapes was still way above the bulk of releases of so-called Jazz albums in 1978. His very individualized style on the soprano and tenor saxes, bass clarinet and flute may be admired throughout the album. And there are a few standout tracks: Anua; A Promise Kept and Farewell To Rahsaan.

Ripped @320 from the original vinyl-no reissues.

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