Passport-Doldinger (1971)

The German band Passport became one of the greatest European jazz-rock acts thanks to their intelligent combination of the jazz fusion of the British Canterbury sound and the atmospheric and spacey elements of German krautrock. With their debut album, considered a masterpiece, this band, led by saxophonist and keyboardist Klaus Doldinger, already hinted at their distinctive style, replete with keyboards, saxophone solos, psychedelic influences, and a subtle bluesy foundation, all underpinned by meticulous instrumental precision and a high degree of accessibility. Although energetic jazz rock is present in some parts of the album, such as "Uranus" or "Madhouse Jam", the overall style here is more relaxed and linear than its North American contemporaries, giving the music a more cosmic and spacey sound ("Lemuria's Dance", "Schirokko", "Hexensabbat", "Nostalgia" or "Continuation"), undoubtedly due to the intensive use of modern digital synthesizers, an innovation that distinguishes them from other jazz rock/fusion albums released at that time, which used analog keyboards such as the Hammond organ, electric pianos or first-generation synthesizers.