Reviews of Language of the Heart

“All the devout Brian Auger fan needs to know about ‘Language of the Heart’ is that it overflows with the immediately recognizable tones of the British fusion pioneer’s Hammond-B3 organ and Fender Rhodes electric piano. All the uninitiated needs to know is that this album favorably compares with the work Auger produced during the heyday of jazz- rock fusion.

“The seven tracks, written and arranged by Brian Auger and Tea—a duo composed of keyboardist/percussionist Phil Bunch and guitarist Franck Balloffet—are wisely dominated by instrumental sounds like that of ‘Ella,’ which brings the disc to a hypnotic close. The organ is Auger’s main axe, but on an ode to his current place of residence, ‘Venice Street Fair,’ he displays the sharp percussive attack that, transposed from the Fender Rhodes piano he often uses, distinguishes his work on the Hammond. His unusual approach renders his style as personal now as it sounded in the mid-to-late ‘70s with the various lineups of his band, The Oblivion Express.

“The intense percussive rhythm and virtually unabated flow of the keyboards, guitars, and bass frame the voice, not vice versa, so that, integrated at just the proper level within this otherwise lush mix, each component of the arrangement has the proper prominence.

“For that reason alone, ‘Language of the Heart’ posits Brian Auger as one of those rare musicians for whom his personal niche anchors him in a particular time without rendering his current output dated in any way.

“The soft currents of the organ speckled with piano immediately follow on ‘Hymn to Morning.’ This cut further reaffirms ‘Language of the Heart’ as the work of a man flush with inspiration, not to mention the resources at hand, including guitarist Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter and Auger’s son, percussionist Karma. who help to render that inspiration vividly real.”

Doug Collette, All About Jazz

“Despite being in the music business for in excess of fifty years, Auger has released relatively few solo albums so it is particularly pleasing that he is back on the recording scene with the CD ‘Language of the Heart’. Produced by Franck Balloffet and Phil Bunch (aka Tea) who also contribute on guitars and keyboards respectively, this eclectic collection includes input from guitarist Jeffrey ‘Skunk’ Baxter who of course was a founding member of Steely Dan and also played with the Doobie Brothers. Joining Baxter on guitars is Julian Coryell (son of Larry Coryell) and talking of famous parents, Auger’s son and daughter, Karma and Savannah, also play a part.

“In terms of personal favorites the smoky ‘Ella’ proves to be a Brian Auger instrumental master class and equally impressive is the fabulous ‘Venice Street Fair’. Motivated by the Annual Street fair in Venice Beach, CA, where Brian now resides, this deceptively easy grooving number is added to in no small measure by a guitar solo from Baxter that is right on the money.”

Smooth Jazz Therapy

“Venice, California must be a fab place. It has certainly kept Auger and family in a peace-and-love groove for many a year, and this latest release, as full of glistening Rhodes as it is the trademark Hammond, is no exception.

“What makes ‘Language of the Heart’ a shade different is that Auger was invited to record this as a solo album, even if most of the guys on board are associated with Auger’s other projects.

“So we have him on vocals (well, he can’t leave it all to his daughter!), plus he wrote most of the material and the heartfelt if, dare one say, hippy dippy lyrics. But this is no vanity project -- the presence of ‘Skunk’ Baxter brings a not surprising but most welcome Steely Dan groove to the likes of ‘Venice Street Fair’, although the distinctly Steely ‘Flying Free’ is actually lit up by Julian Coryell who has picked up a gene or three from dad (Larry Coryell).

“This wheel’s still on fire, no matter how the decades pass.”

Andy Robson, Jazzwise