T A L E N T Breath" with more recent efforts. Of course, musician, he tends to use his voice to riff in- "Museum," "Telstar" and Jonathan Rich- there was a whirlwind rendition of "Thick As strumentally rather than to sing emotively, mond's "Roadrunner." A Brick," although newer hits "Bungle In and the results, while never uninteresting, The evening's mood was far from blase. The Jungle" and "Skating Away On The are curiously uninvolving. The enthusiasm was spontaneous. Janus Thin Ice Of The New Day" were noticeably Dr. John did excel, however, on songs and Beserkley Records and the GRT Group Billy Joel with absent. sharp instrumental hooks, like had a great reason to celebrate, and the his Place, But with a catalog like Jethro Tull's some "Sing(3)," and "Right Wrong success of these two artists should give THE FORUM, L.A. Although his commer- Time." The was - omissions are inevitable, although the doctor preceded by them even more reason to celebrate in the cial breakthrough is due to the success o audience didn't notice. It was too busy Horizon labelmate Neil Larsen, who fronted future. janet bridgers such MOR -styled love ballads as "Just The enjoying Anderson's flute, John Evan's the band for several tunes before assuming Way You Are" and "She's Always A stirring keyboards, Martin Barre's sizzling a sideman role with Dr. John. Larsen is an Woman," Billy Joel has always been a guitar and the rest of Jethro Tull's superb engaging jazz -fusion organist, and the few boisterous, audacious rock 'n' roller at performance. numbers he did galvanized the musicians heart. And true to form, his recent perfor- Uriah Heep opened the show and was to the highest level of energy they reached mance at the Forum demonstrated that the well received by those who arrived early that night. piano man has lost little of his bristling rock enough to catch the show. It's too bad for Opening the show was Alicia Bridges. [Blend power or intensity. the Heep that more didn't. Joey berlin Though her Polydor single, "I Love the UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, PORTLAND Spurred on by his own percussive piano Night Life (Disco Round)," is bulleting MAINE Billed figures and aggressive vocals, plus the towards the Top Ten, she easily transcen- - as the first native Maine group to secure a major label spirited drumming of Liberty DeVitto, Joel ded the limits of both the charts and the recording contract, The Blend recently released their and his five -piece backup band played a arshall dance floor. Bridges is an original, and the debut album on MCA Records, healthy dose of his earlier rock selections disco life is a metaphor for her weirdly and their Tucker live performance indicates as well as his more moderately -paced isolated world-view. Her vocals combine that this band could eventually capture a large national singles from "The Stranger" and "52nd Band the improvisational style of a jazz singer following. Street." "Ballad Of Billy The Kid," "Angry with the soul of a blues singer, and she MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NYC - As the group's name signifies, their Young Man" and "Big Shot" were the up - When the Marshall Tucker Band stages her performance with the swagger debuted music is a blend of several distinct styles. tempo showstoppers, while "New York on Capricorn in 1973, they were billed with of James Dean and the elegant narcissism Spice good-time rock'n'roll with hard - State Of Mind" and his signature piece, the Allman Brothers Band. But of David Bowie. Highlights were "I Love the the group driving blues, add a slight tinge southern "Piano Man," provided a more intimate, soon Night Life," the somewhat psychedelic of evolved beyond the limiting boogie, and you have the steaming, ex- lyrical change of pace. On both the rockers "Allmanesque" "High Altitude," and the stunning blues, categorization with their uberant mixture that is The Blend's music. and ballads, Joel's pure, expressive voice own brand "Broken Woman." But while Bridges, who of country and bluegrass music. In their recent gig at the University remained in excellent form. performs with close -cropped blonde hair, a of As a result, they are not your typical Maine, Blend Another highlight of the concert was the black body stocking, and black sequined drummer Skip Smith and southern rock band. bassist Ken singer/songwriter's rendition of "Scenes jacket, has transcended her southern Holt set up hard -rocking, yet As usual, the band's rhythm section stylish rhythms, while Dore From An Italian Restaurant," which roots, she is betrayed by her band. Though guitarist Steven paced its two-hour set at Madison shared lead vocal chores with left-handed featured several riveting exchanges bet- Square Garden. Bassist Tommy Caldwell instrumentally competent, they have a ween saxophonist Richie Cannata and Joel. scruffy, Macon-esque appearance that J.D. Drown, who also supplied incisive and drummer Paul Riddle quickly settled rhythm guitar work. Donnie Pomber, who Although the lyrical sentiment of this song doesn't jive with Bridges' image. This is not into a blues groove, though Riddle has lear- rounds out the quintet on keyboards, is reflective and nostalgia -toned, the to suggest that Bridges should undertake a ad- ned to play harder rock numbers with the ded his incredible showmanship twosome adeptly transformed "Scenes" Grace Jones -at -Roseland show, but she to the act, kind of freedom one usually associates with and also displayed considerable musical into a surging workout which approached Tony Williams. should extend control of her act beyond her talent, especially during his solo in "I'm the impact of a heated Clarence Toy Caldwell built his lead guitar work own persona. aaron fuchs Clemons/Bruce Springsteen exchange. with short phrases Gonna Make You Love Me." that develop into The Blend bade Despite the lengthiness of the show (two - elongated blues statements. adieu to their enthusiastic audience with a tune called "I and -a -half hours) Joel kept the perfor- The group derived another source of im- Greg Kihn Band Hope You Find Somethin'," which mance moving at a dynamic, brisk pace. petus and direction from members Doug seemed to be their anthem. With the intense per- Receiving many standing ovations and Gray and Jerry Eubanks. Vocalist Gray is a Paul Korda sonal commitment of all the band mem- playing four encores, the piano man's gospel -rooted singer whose voice resoun- bers, The Blend should continue to spread debut appearance at the 18,000 -seat ded with a searing, unfailing anguish, es- out from their home base. patrick Forum was an uncompromising, certified pecially on "Ramblin." clifford Eubanks' sax and THE ROXY, L.A. The Greg Khin Band triumph. dale kawashima flute served as a hearty foil for Caldwell - and Paul Korda celebrated the release of (particularly on "Take the Highway") in a their new GRT Group albums with a recent way that added a distinctive flavor to the performance at the Roxy. Balloons, pizza, group's sound. The least visible if not most free spirits and dancing in the aisles all Jethro Tull important member of the band remains marked a genuinely festive occasion. George McCorkle, who provided a con- Uriah Heep Paul Korda opened and introduced his Illinois Jacquet sistently steady strumming on his rhythm high -style city sound. "Meet You at the End THE VILLAGE VANGUARD, NYC Illinois guitar. of the - Without the use of elaborate theatrical Line," his first number, as well as the Jacquet first popularized the frenetic tenor THE FORUM, LOS ANGELES - Jethro staging, the Marshall Tucker Band soon -to -be -classic "Manhattan," are two shriek as a featured soloist in Norman Tull, led by the minstrel of Elizabethan rock songs which delivered the kind of set that has charac- describe American urban life Granz' Jazz At The Philharmonic concert Ian Anderson, brought in a the controlled fury terized its performing career - crisp, unique way - a blend of black and unit during the mid -'40s. Today, Jacquet of its live act to Los Angeles recently and tight and energetic. They are truly white rhythm & melody, brass, piano, guitar has eliminated the coarse tonal effects and the result was typical of the response the and seasoned professionals that make live con- sassy vocals. The rich texture of this excesses of his JATP days to play instead in veteran rock unit has received throughout certs fun. leo sacks blend heralds a "Big Sound of the Seven- a more subdued fashion, as he did during its ten years of touring: unabashed ties," in much the same way Chicago and his recent engagement here. enthusiasm bordering on adulation. Blood, Sweat and Tears introduced one in Jacquet's heavy tone helped to shape Selecting mostly material from the group's the Sixties. Without slowing down, a lighter the tenor sound of the '40s, and he Dr. latest release, the live double album John mood marked "East-West," introduced demonstrated at the Vanguard that he is "Bursting Out," Tull once again proved Alicia Bridges with pretty piano before a change to the in- still as influential and charismatic today as itself to be one of the few musical fectious chorus. Tempo changes and an in- he ever was. Backed by pianist Ray Bryant attractions capable of filling a huge arena triguing melody characterized "Alone and drummer Panama Francis, the Classic with vibrant, yet disciplined rock 'n' roll. THE BOTTOM LINE, NEW YORK CITY - Together." Jazz recording artist performed such As he has done for years, Anderson Dr. John and featured Alicia Bridges are Headlining the evening's performance, traditional compositions as "Sunny Side Of provided a larger -than -life character for the two exceptionally talented individuals who, The Greg Kihn Band presented their The Street," "Lady Be Good," and "How audience to focus on.