Atmospheres-Featuring Clive Stevens and Friends (1974)

Atmospheres is the name of the jazz-rock project created by saxophonist Clive Stevens in the early 1970s. For this project, he recruited six of the best jazz-rock/fusion musicians of the time: guitarists Ralph Towner, Steve Khan, and John Abercrombie; drummers Harry Wilkinson and Billy Cobham; and bassist Rick Laird. Their debut album was recorded in several sessions at Capitol Records' Times Square studios in New York City during February 1972. The album consists of six tracks imbued with virtuosic jazz-rock, incorporating elements of avant-garde jazz and free jazz. Pieces like the exhilarating "Earth Spirit", the sober "Nova '72", the avant-garde jazz "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow", the experimental "The Parameters Of Saturn" or the semi-progressive "Astral Dreams", reflect an excellent work of the best jazz rock/fusion performed by seven talented musicians, some of whom are considered among the best on their respective instruments.