The Fourth Way (with keyboardist Mike Nock, violinist Michael White and drummer Eddie Marshall) was an early fusion quartet that released three fine albums between 1969-71, none of which has been reissued on CD. Between Or Beyond was an album released in 1970 by the German MPS label and credited to the Mike Nock Underground, basically the Fourth Way minus White. Given its time and place (recorded in Germany in June of 1970), sonically, it's very much of its time. But it's a corker of an album that is the equal to any of the Fourth Way discs as well as a lot of other better-known electric jazz experiments of the time. McClure plays electric bass and it's mixed to the foreground so it functions as much as a frontline instrument as in the rhythm section. While some of this disc dwells in the area of adventurous acoustic piano trio jazz ("Hobgoblin" and McClure's "Denim Dance"), most of it is electric piano based jazz/rock. Nock sounds like he's having a lot of fun making his piano do a lot of things the old acoustic couldn't do. A point of reference might be Canterbury bands' forays into jazz improv. Nock's disc is a good demonstration that before it devolved into formulaic demonstrations of soulless technique, some highly enjoyable recordings were released under the fusion banner. Good to see this one back in print, although it may be hard to come by since it's a Japanese reissue. - Robert Iannapollo
Tracks
1. Between or Beyond (Mike Nock)
2. The Squire (Mike Nock)
3. Hobgoblin (Mike Nock)
4. Outfall (mike Nock)
5. Denim Dance (Ron McClure)
6. Lady Love (Mike Nock)
7. Wax Planet (Ron McClure)
8. Space Bugaloo (Mike Nock)
MIKE NOCK piano, electric piano
RON McCLURE bass
EDDIE MARSHALL drums
Recorded at MPS Studio Villigen/Black Forest, June 29, 1970
MPS Records 15261 Germany