Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 105

E13 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Sunday, March 30. 1983 rmiv JAZZ RELEASES PLAYBOY HOTEL CASINO a ATLANTIC CITY 750 0 Sun. thru Thurs. after 4 p.m. Fri.

$10 IN COIN $12.50 PRIME RIB FEAST 5 DEFERRED VOUCHER Redeemable next bus trip to Playboy $22.00 BONUS Sun. Thru Thurs. $10 IN COIN before 4 p.m. 7 DELI 5 DEFERRED VOUCHER Redeemable next bus trip to Playboy $12.00 BONUS Saturday $5 IN COIN $7 DELI v. I i I I i 4 A "V'- V-M 1 ft ill -TMTir- il in 'ii i "TniilA two artists are at the top of their collective form on "Plaza Real," a Shorter contribution to the set, and on "The Well," which actually is an improvisation from a Japanese concert that includes a fascinating touch of the Oriental.

"Two Lines" actually could be programmed into a creative disco program, with a danceable rhythm base laid dawn by new bassist Victor Bailey and drummer Omar Hakim. And there's a track entitled "Molasses Run," which shows off how brilliantly Zawinul can make something superb out of basic funk. The most interesting track, though, is "Where the Moon Goes," which combines Weather Report with Manhattan Transfer to create a complex mixture of jazz improvisation and carefully arranged vocal harmonies. The Transfer sounds fine and Weather Report interacts beautifully with the vocal quartet. CHARLES McCOLLUM Weather Report PROCESSION Columbia Records It now is obvious that Weather Report, the most successful of the jazz fusion bands that surfaced during the early 1970s, has really become a vehicle for one of its co-founders, Joe Zawinul.

In recent years, the other original members of the group have either taken a back seat to Zawinul (saxophonist Wayne Shorter) or simply left the band for greener pastures (bassist Jaco Pas-torious). Yet, the departures have done little to alter the consistent excellence of Weather Report's music and, if anything, "Procession" is one of the best albums the group has offered during its time together. The best part of any Weather Report effort is the interaction between Zawinul's multi-toned synthesizers and Shorter's blazing work on alto and tenor saxophones. This time around, the Real estate Someone's looking for a house exactly like one of your listings. Is your ad in today's CLASSIFIED section of Hiirlforii dourant DAILY M0TORCOACH DEPARTURES Kaplan Tours 1-800-962-0802 6:45 AM Bonanza Tvl.

WestHartford 00 AM Jimmy's Smoke Shop, 7:15 AM Warner's Pharmacy, Mendan 235-7095 $24.00 All Participants Must 8e At Least '8 Years Of Age Sublet To Change Without Notice. TRINITY DANCE WORKSHOPS Joe Zawinul of Weather Report 1983 Spring Session: March 28-May21 NEW POPROCK RELEASES Registration Ballet Modern Jazz Mime J) 'Va, tT-i r.v Tai Chi The Beatles Audiophile Collection IslnStockAtC.R.S.! The Boxed Set That Everybody Is Talking About "The Beatles: The Collection" Is-Available At The Record Shop That Everybody is Talking About. We also have many other fine Beatles Boxed Sets, some very rare: Japanese LP Set Japanese EP Set British LP Set Japanese Singles Set British Mono LP Set British EP Set U.S. LP Set (Original) Britjsh Singes Set French LP Set Ongma i Japanese 8 LP Anthology Bntish Lennon LP Set CAPITOL RECORD SHOP 'Connecticut 's Uncommon Record Store Store Hours: 1 1 a.m.-8 p.m.. Monday through Saturday 7 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, 278-6530 Free, leqal' parking at all times on Capitol Avenue Movement Massage Performance Workshop Improvisation NON-CREDIT tj0wm1' COUKbti.

8 WEEKS Tel. 527-3151, ext. 317 Irn TRINITY COLLEGE HARTFORD Michael Jackson THRILLER Columbia Records What's so bad about a record that's supremely polished, professional and pop? Nothing, if the material is also supreme. Such is the case with Michael Jackson's new bum, "Thriller." The best cuts are those that Jackson wrote (and co-produced) himself. In these tunes, the dreamy sound of his vocals works against somewhat darker subjects.

For these songs "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' there's muscle to his softness. The result is powerful. "Beat It" has a double-edged quality: It urges the listener to split from bad scenes that may turn violent, but the song maddeningly lingers, almost tempting the flight. "Billie Jean," Jackson's current hit off the album, is an emotional defense against a paternity suit. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' rails out against gossip.

Guest talent abounds on the disc. Paul McCartney sings with Jackson in the corny, but affectionate, "This Girl Is Mine." Eddie Van Halen's guitar wizardry gives "Beat It" added punch. Toto's David Paich, Steve and Jeff Pocaro and Steve Lukather offer their considerable studio craftsmanship to several numbers. But the main outside help is producer Quincy Jones. Jones's influence can run both ways.

His effort with Donna Summer was a disappointment for both artists. But with Jackson, a 24-year-old singer who has spent the last 14 years of his life in show business, the studio calculations come across as natural. Despite the album's state-of-the-artiness quality, the production values never seem strained. Jackson's castrato-like tenor has been honed over the years into a delicate instrument. His soft pop voice, at once childlike and sure, is given its chance in "Thriller" to show its full range: from a seductive creaminess that's almost liquid to vocals that can cut to the bone.

FRANK RIZZO Earth, Wind and Fire POWERLIGHT Columbia Records For better or for worse, Earth, Wind and Fire is Maurice White. The better is White's sure touch for a wide range of musical styl-ings and for attractive melody lines. The worse is his inability to consistently produce coherent lyrics and a spirtualism that dominates his work to the point of becoming insufferable rhetoric. Happily, "Powerlight" has far more of the better. It is the best set the group has produced in some time, with an often heady mixture of American pop stylings and in something new from White Brazilian textures.

Even though the lyrics are still mysti-fyingly obscure, there is enough punch of the melodies and arrangements White has cooked up to more than mask the shortcomings of the words. The best part of "Powerlight" is the band's unerring feel for vocal arrangements. "Fall in Love with Me" the set's new single is particularly striking with a fine, quasi-scat vocal from White. Philip Bailey is in MichaelJackson superior torm on "Straight From the Heart," an excursion into funk, and also spearheads the soaring choral arrangement on "Miracles." White's most impressive musical twist on "Powerlight" is his extensive use of modern Brazilian rhythms. "Powerlight" may well prove to be most successful album in some time.

CHARLES McCOLLUM Nick Lowe THE ABOMINABLE SHOWMAN Columbia Records Here's what's new on "The Abominable Showman," Nick Lowe's fourth solo album: It's his first LP without any of his chums from the 1970s (for example, guitarist Billy Bremner or drummer Terry Williams); it's the first time in four years he's included something by another songwriter (Moon Martin); he uses strings more than ever before; and it's the first time he's shared producer credits with Roger Bechirian. That's a lot of novelty. So how come "The Abominable Showman" sounds so much like everything else Lowe has recorded? The zingy power pop of the opening song, "We Want Action," is similar in tone to a handful of older Lowe tunes compare, for example, "Let Me Kiss Ya" or "Stick It" from his last album, or even "Saint Beneath the Paint" on the new one. Lowe's penchant for using or coming up with clever turns of phrase is, as usual, in full bloom here: "Time Wounds All Heels" is one song's title, and another is the lengthy "(For Every Woman Who Ever Made a Fool of a Man There's a Woman Made a) Man of a Fool." Still, there's much to like about "The Abominable Showman." A haunting but un-credited violin part adds a poignant note to the 1930-ish ballad "How Do You Talk to an Angel," and "Raging Eyes" just misses the kind of roaring intensity Lowe achieved with the likes of "They Called It Rock" or "Teacher Teacher" (what's missing is guitar support from the likes of Dave Edmunds). Best of.

all are "Wish You Were Here," a duet with pianist Paul Carrack that was introduced on last year's Carrack Lowe tour, and "Mess Around With Love," a sure-footed Lowe number with a rumbly piano break by Carrack. HENRY McNULTY i-ihiitMmliimfiiittiwiMii-rM iOTtfci I vFl llif-iifi-" nmn i in i 111 2 I J. dk 2 The International Musical Hit KILROY.WA HERE 1 mm, t4 CASSETTE The long awaited new studio album from Styx is here.Kilroy was just a man whose circumstances went beyond his control. Includes "Mr. "Heavy Metal "Don't Let It End" "Haven't We Been Here Before" and more.

AM Kl( OKDS EVITA ORDER FORM Name Address ALSO AVAILABLE OH RECORDS CASSETTES I I City State Home Phone Business Phone I -I Xw 1 Time Time Date (1st Choice) Date (2nd Choice) No. seats Performance schedule and prices; Apr. 19, 20 8 p.m. Orch. sold out; 1st Bal.

$19, $17; Apr. 22,23 8 p.m. Orch. $25 (sold out on Apr. 23); 1st Bal.

$22.50 (sold out on Apr. 23), $20; 2nd Bal. $17.50, $14. Apr. 23, 24 2 p.m.

Orch. $21 (sold out on Apr. 24); 1st Bal. $19, $17; 2nd Bal. $14, $8 Apr.

24 8 p.m. Orch. $21; 1st Bal. $19, $17; 2nd Bal. $14, $8 Mail Order Only This Week.

Group Discounts: Call Marilyn Sponzo at 527-3123. O.B. I enclose a check made payable to BUSHNELL for iew fwtiiiiifn ii- ti 1 ff I I For box office use only Check Cash lst( 2nd( Orch. Section and a self-addressed stamped return business (long white) envelope. Mail to: Box Office, Bushnell Memorial Hall, Station Box 6898, Hartford, CT 06106 Seat No.

By Row W.O. Date Mail Date hii" wiafriiatWiiTiiiinT -1 --f-- inimf ittirf mi main 'riiainir y'iiiiftiiiairtMi.