the lighter side reviewed by MORGAN AMES ROYAL S. BROWN R. D. DARRELL HENRY EDWARDS KENNETH FURIE MIKE JAHN JOHN S. WILSON DIANA Ross: Last Time I Saw Him. *,Diana Ross, vocals; orchestral ac- companiment. Last Time I Saw Him; No One's Gonna Be a Fool Forever; Love Me; seven more. [Michael Mas- ser, Tom Baird, and Ron Miller, prod.] MOTOWN M 812V1, $5.98. Tape: M Natural Essence-approaching jazz in their own way. 81812, $6.98; ZS M 75812, $6.987 Trot out the superlatives: Diana Ross's new album release is her best in years. Most al- sinks, but it just plain feels good. Among other Moe Humm; Fifty -Fifty; Dirty Love; Zomby bums by major vocalists produce one or two things, it is a family affair, with distinguished Wool. [Frank Zappa, prod.] DISCREET MS superior cuts-the bouncy, bubbling title -tune father and uncle producing the work of the 2149, $5.98. single release from this disc is no exception- son and his group. and rely upon musical filler to pad the rest. On One hardly expects the son of Nat Adderley Zappa and his Mothers have been producing "Last Time I Saw Him." however, every cut and nephew of Cannonball to grow up into a satirical rock with jazz touches for nearly a cooks. country or calypso artist. The jazz elements in decade, and continue to come up with new Once again, Ms. Ross proves that she is a su- young Adderley's work are strong. But equally ideas. The trouble is. this time the ideas are perior interpreter. Whether she is purring a strong isa sense of "what itis."i.e..the new but they're not funny. Zappa's biting lyr- ballad or gospel -shouting her way through an present. and experiment and openness. as in ics are toothless. Sure. the ideas behind them up -tune, Diana demonstrates the kind of the title song. are absurd: a man retiring to Montana to grow finesse and power that are a perfect comple- The lead singer is a girl named Yvonne dental floss: slime emerging from the TV set: a ment to her dazzling versatility: that versatility Fletcher. She sings with great warmth and woman betting a man he can't induce in her an is given a generous workout on this disc. ease. Nat Adderley Jr. turns out to be a sweet orgasm. Diana provides a melting vocal on Turn and romantic singer himself, as on his compo- But the execution of these lyrical ideas is A round, that folk standard written by Malvina sition Live My Life for You. poor. so poor one wishes that Zappa and his Reynolds in conjunction with Allan Greene The group members are young and play ex- supporting vocalists had sung less audibly, so and Harry Belafonte. She delivers a pulsating ceedingly well, from the warm trombone of that one could ignore the words and enjoy the I Heard a Love Sing (but You Never Made a Earl McIntyre to the flutes of Rene Rivera and music. As usual. Zappa supplies a panoply of Sound), accompanied by a throbbing musical Eddie Martin. exciting. ever -varying jazz rock ably assisted treatment that never descends to melodramat- Natural Essence must deal with the com- by, among others, Jean -Luc Ponty on violin. ics. She also performs a powerful gospel blues plexities of jazz in the marketplace. People But the lyrics do ruin the experience. Unless, called Stone Liberty, which is sure to satisfy all tell me that jazz is making yet another emer- of course, one gets off on crude satire and of her r&b fans. gence into popularity, but all I hear are its in- sophomoric sexual stories. M.J. Credit for this sparkling album should go to fluences (and they are considerable) in groups Ms. Ross's producers, Michael Masser, Tom such as Chicago. It is hard to say what the Baird. and Ron Miller. The fourteen song- word jazz means right now. But like other BONNIE NAITT: Takin' My Time. Bonnie Raitt, writers who contributed to it should also be jazz -oriented young groups, Natural Essence vocals and acoustic guitar;strings,key- noted. Most of all, however. congratulations includes in its album a few tracks that are not boards, rhythm, horns, and vocal accom- to Diana Ross, who has never been afraid of jazz. but rather the children of slowed down paniment. You've Been in Love Too Long; I growth and change and who has made her au- r&b. harmonic and romantic and adventur- Gave My Love a Candle; Let Me In; seven diences the beneficiaries of her fearlessness. ous. We hear it here with Kilhn' Time. sung by more. [John Hall, prod.] WARNER BROS. BS H.E. Yvonne Fletcher. the duet Live My Life for 2729, $5.98. Tape: 4" M 82729, $6.97; OAF M You, and The Other Side of Town. Pure jazz is 52729, $6.97. not a vocal idiom. Thus, adding voices is NATURAL ESSENCE: In Search of Hap- breaking away from jazz. This group does it Bonnie Rain fans undoubtedly will adore piness. Nat Adderley Jr., keyboards emotionally and well. and vocals;EarlMcIntyre, various Who knows? Maybe one of these days Nat- brasses; Rene Rivera and Eddie Mar- ural Essence will sneak into the market tin, reeds; Francisco Centena, bass; Explanation of symbols through the accessibility of its vocal tracks. I Ramon Rivera, percussion; Buddy hope so and wish them all well. Williams, vocal and drums; Yvonne The album is carefully produced by some exceptionc I recording Fletcher, vocals. Killin' Time; Variation proudly interested bystanders. M.A. 1* on Last Night; Little Dahoud's Dance; Recorded tape. five more. [Cannonball Adderley and Open Reel Nat Adderley Sr., prod.] FANTASY FRANK ZAPPA di THE MOTHERS: Over -nits 9440, $4.98. Sensation. Frank Zappa, guitar and vocals; 8-Trac< Cartridge vocal and instrumental accompaniment. I'm Casse to This album may not conquer worlds or unplug the Slime; Camarillo Brillo; Montana; Dinah - 120 HIGH FIDELITY MAGAZINE.