Agora - Live in Montreux. 1976 Italy

Agora's debut is an instrumental jazz rock album, as was common for the time and place. Mahavishnu Orchestra is once again a primary influence along with Weather Report and Holdsworth-era Soft Machine. Since this is a live recording, it's considerably rawer then their peers like Il Baricentro, Perigeo, and Nova, which gives it an extra bite these albums so often need. An excellent example of the style with emotive guitar, electric piano, and saxophone. Easy recommendation for jazz rock and fusion fans.

Ownership: LP: 1976 Atlantic. Acquired from Sound Garden in Baltimore while in town for business (2021). Originals come with a pop up tree cover and this one is in perfect shape, which is hard to find. 

My first copy was the Japanese promo LP (and sold March 2018) which does not feature the gimmix cover. Nor does the Italian mini-LP, though it does have a brief history in both Italian and English. Decided to sell it as well.

2003; 9/29/16 (new entry)