Barcelona Traction - Barcelona Traction (1975) 2009

Barcelona Traction was a Spanish Jazz-Rock trio from Barcelona whose origins are to be found in the NEW JAZZ TRIO who in the early 70?s played in the Barcelona jazz clubs circuit and became a regular in perhaps the most famous venue La Cova Del Drac.

The pianist was Lucky GURI (real name Joaquim Lluis GURI) who incidentally in 1972 together with German saxophonist Peter ROAR from MAQUINA! (who?s real name spelling was Rohr but adapted it because Spanish people had trouble to pronounce it correctly) and support from other MAQUINA! members recorded the album We Are Digging The Beatles with jazzified covers of The BEATLES songs. The original vinyl of this album is quite valued by collectors because shortly after its release it had to be removed from the market due to pressure from The Beatles management because the authors rights had not been properly handled (nowadays it has been reissued in CD by the Catalan label Picap).

Around 1974 NEW JAZZ TRIO?s pianist GURI and contrabassist Jordi CLUA decide to change their acoustic instruments by electric ones and recruit drummer Francis RABASSA who was coming from the rock band Los Gatos Negros, and in May 1975 they recorded their eponimous debut album ?Barcelona Traction?.

The music is regular instrumental Jazz-Rock with the keyboards (piano, lots of Rhodes and Moog) taking the leading role on a very solid rythmic section supported by 2 guest percussionists. Nothing particularly groundbreaking but very good compositions combining strong melodies with great improvisation sections, and exquisitely performed.

Highly recommended for listeners who enjoy the jazzier and more accessible side of Jazz-Rock/Fusion.

In July 1975 they performed at the mythical (for Spanish standards) 1st Canet Rock Festival with very good critical acclaim (a short excerpt is available in YouTube).

However in 1976 Lucky GURI left to MUSICA URBANA and while BARCELONA TRACTION continued playing concerts with replacement keyboardist Josep Maria DURAN they did not record any new album and finally disbanded in 1977 with CLUA and RABASSA moving to the band of Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel SERRAT and later to the Fusion band TEVERANO with whom they released their eponimous only album in 1981.

In 1982 the original line-up with GURA, CLUA and RABASSA rejoined to release a last album ?Nano? which moved away from the rock side of Jazz-Rock and instead focussed on proper jazz with some elements from funk and music-hall music.

Lucky GURI continued his career concentrated in jazz and became one of the most highly regarded jazz pianist in Barcelona, his popularity boosted by his regular performances in Catalan TV shows.