by Jason Elias
Early on, Connors didn't have the accolades bestowed on contemporaries like Billy Cobham or Tony Williams. Connors simply didn't possess their chops in the jazz idiom. But in a genre closer to R&B, and as an assembler of talent, Connors was in a league all his own. Slewfoot provided Connors all he needed to do in the &serious& vein, with tracks like &Mother of the Future.& You Are My Starship has the sound of previous albums coming to fruition. The atmospheric title track represents a classic in the genre, with Michael Henderson's smooth vocals and bass playing, plus a solo on soprano sax by Gary Bartz. Connors does a masterful, slowed-down remake of the Stylistics' &Betcha By Golly Wow& with Phillis Hyman's bittersweet and romantic vocal. Hyman and Henderson duet on &We Both Need Each Other,& and it shows genuine sexual chemistry between the two. Even though this was released in 1976, Connors was still having difficulties letting go of the old sound, as the Latin-styled but aimless &Just Imagine& proved. Connors put a good gloss on the often-recondite &The Creator Has a Master Plan (Peace).& You Are My Starship has some great work, and it's only one or two songs away from being truly essential.