Story of I
	Produced by Patrick Moraz
	Released on 1976
	US CHART POSITION #132
	Find it at GEMM
CDS 4002 cover

P rogressive rock keyboardists, many of them trained in the classics, often go the route of program music on their own, creating complex concept albums that fall prey to convoluted plots. On the surface, Patrick Moraz’ Story of I fits that description: the “story” takes place in a huge hotel where guests exchange their life for the pursuit of pleasure, following the lives of a man and woman who accidentally fall in love while thus occupied. Throw into the mix all manner of musical styles (prog rock, jazz, Latin music), the painstaking personification of various instruments to drive the plot, and fourteen separate sections that connect the story seamlessly from point to point… well, you see the potential for this tower to topple over. And yet Story of I succeeds against overwhelming odds: Moraz’ keyboard wizardry conjures plenty of magical moments, from the opening “Impact” (which sounds like a saucer landing in a jungle) to a miniature battle between guitar and mini-moog on “Indoors.” Equally important, Moraz carefully scripts the action from piece to piece while ensuring that principle themes and sounds give the work a unifying structure. The liner notes, which look chaotic, actually reveal Story of I to be calculated art. There are even a handful of songs here, some featuring Patrick himself on vocals without ill effect, that break up the instrumental action nicely. The supporting musicians are outstanding, aiding Moraz in the pursuit of a new sort of fusion that draws from prog rock, jazz, and Brazilian music (Chick Corea may be the closest parallel). Although listeners might be expecting something along the lines of Rick Wakeman (and there are some moments where the two cross paths), Story of I is closer in construct to Tony Banks’ A Curious Feeling. However, Moraz aspires to (and achieves) much more here. In fact, Story of I may well be the keyboardist’s towering achievement. Ambitious in the extreme, engaging at every turn, this deserves a place among such impressive declarations of independence as Olias of Sunhillow, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Voyage of the Acolyte.

CDS 4002 back cover	CDS 4002 inner gatefold	CDS 4002 inner sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. IMPACT    3:28
2. WARMER HANDS    3:37
3. THE STORM    0:53
4. CACHAÇA (BAIÃO)    4:09
5. INTERMEZZO    2:49
6. INDOORS    3:44
7. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES    4:01
8. DESCENT    1:43
9. INCANTATION (PROCESSION)    1:52
10. DANCING NOW    4:38
11. IMPRESSIONS (THE DREAM)    2:48
12. LIKE A CHILD IN DISGUISE    4:05
13. RISE AND FALL    5:34
14. SYMPHONY IN THE SPACE    3:07
    
    All music and themes composed, arranged and conducted by Patrick Moraz. English lyrics by John McBurnie, French lyrics by Patrick Moraz.

CREDITS

PATRICK MORAZ -- keyboards, vocals, marimbaphone, additional assorted percussions, orchestrations
JEFF BERLIN -- electric basses
RAY GOMEZ -- electric lead and rhythm guitars
VIVIENNE McAULIFFE -- vocals and additional lead vocals
JOHN McBURNIE -- lead vocals
ALPHONSE MOUZON -- drums
ANDY NEWMARK -- drums
Chico Batera -- surdos 1
Bezerra (with Birimbau) -- ripique
Jean-Luc Bourgeois -- gongs and tam-tams
Paulinho Braga -- tumba
The Children of Morat, Switzerland -- vocals
Claudio -- corte
Auguste De Anthony -- acoustic guitar and additional electric guitars
Doutor -- cuica
Elizeu -- percussion
Gilson de Freitas -- bateria
Jorge Garcia -- tamborins
Gordinho -- surdos 2
Hermes -- varios
Jorginho -- ganza
Luna -- percussion
Marcal (with matchboxes) -- percussion
Rene Moraz -- tap dance and castagnets
Veronique Mueller -- French and additional vocals
Nenem -- pandeiro
Risadinha -- agogo
"Professor" Jean Ristori -- cello and acoustic string bass, engineer
Geraldo Sabino -- reco-reco
Philippe Staehli -- tympanis and assorted percussions
Wilson -- frigideira
Chris "Snoopy" Penycate -- engineer
John Pasche -- cover design

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