"Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris" is an album by the British jazz-rock band Soft Machine. The album was released in 1978 under the Harvest Records label.
This live album was the result of recordings from performances that occurred in Paris, France in July 1977. Some of these performances were broadcast on French radio, and due to their high quality, they were used to create "Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris". It's noteworthy that Soft Machine, a band known for frequently changing its lineup, had a relatively stable formation around the time of these performances.
The sound of this particular album is distinctly different from the band's earlier work due to the addition of vocalist and bassist Rita Marcotulli. This fusion of jazz and rock with the more melodic styles introduced by Marcotulli created a unique blend of music that was well-received by both critics and fans.
At the time of release, there was some controversy regarding doubling certain tracks that made the release a double LP, however, by including the previously omitted tracks, the later CD reissue made it a more complete live document of the band from this era.
Overall, "Alive & Well: Recorded in Paris" encapsulates a distinct period in Soft Machine's evolution as a band, showcasing their ability to seamlessly combine various musical influences while maintaining their core identity as a jazz-rock fusion band.
