Jazzraptor's Secret

Reviews are coming out for the new album, "Jazzraptor's Secret".  Here are highlights from 40 reviews . . .

ENGLISH

http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=7053

I thoroughly enjoyed this album and recommend it for anyone who enjoys melodic progressive rock, art rock or just well crafted rock music in general. A well deserving four stars.

http://www.jerrylucky.com/

Foster has steadily developed a signature sound that crosses paths with the bombastic-symphonic style of Magellan and the more pop-oriented symphonic influences of Berry. This new release entitled Jazzraptor’s Secret is really the best of all those influences. . . .Bottom line is these songs present themselves as grand visions. Jazzraptor’s Secret is full of majestic sounds all in the service of some very powerful melodies and musical themes.

If all of that sounds like music that will appeal to you, Jack Foster III should be an obvious pick. My guess is that Jazzraptor’s Secret would appeal to fans of bands such as Spock’s Beard, Magellan, Frost* and certainly Robert Berry’s musical efforts. This is a great collection of songs that just sound right.

http://strutter77.angelfire.com/HOTNEWREVIEWS135.htm

. . . this is one of those CDs you can listen over and over again as it contains a wide diversity and is of a very high level musically. 

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=89160296&blogID=453855183

He's done it again. Jack's fourth CD is another winner. . . . A lot of superlatives thrown around, but I assure you they're well deserved.

http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=15465

With all of the random sounding band names and album titles thrown around in popular music, this album has a weird sense of irony in that it actually sounds like what the title suggests, a Jazzy sounding Rock monster. . . . Combine this all to song writing that avoids being overlong and convoluted and you have something that would be burning up the AOR stations if the DJs of today had any good sense.

http://www.lowcut.dk/joomla/index.php?view=article&catid=29%3Aalbum-reviews&id=545%3Ajack-foster-iii-jazzraptors-secret&option=com_content&Itemid=54

Impressive CD.

http://www.heavymetaluniverse.com/home.php?load=cmV2aWV3cy9uZXdzLnBocD9sYW5nPXVr

. . . this guy know how to make good music. This fourth album . . . is a very nice progressive rock record with quite a unique personality.  Foster is a great guitarist, playing incredible soli that are really different from each other, but he's also a very good singer technically and emotionally speaking . . . In the end "Jazzraptor's secret" is an excellent prog-rock record and I can't see any reason for prog-rock or even rock fans to ignore it. 

http://www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=33&p2_articleid=731

"Jazzraptors Secret" is a brilliant album, that brims with excellent music and fine delivery from all involved. The music herein are a perfect mixture of progrock, westcoast and popmusic, with a little jazz indication thrown in here and there!!  To this "old" reviewer and his very trained ears, this is absolutely top class music!! . . .   There are absolutely NO excuses, for you the true music lover, this is a MUST own!! . . . This secret must be revealed in Artrock/prog circuits around the world!!

http://www.ice-vajal.com/f/CD/foster3jack.htm

Anyway, the album has cool songs, is well played and has a good production. Everything on a high level, so what more you can ask for? 

ITALIAN (translations)

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=361476805&blogID=450712139

In a generalized manner we can speak about a very beautiful disc that will not bore and that will also be able to interest those who have never felt to speak about progressive.  The sound is clean but never invading, the musicians are first rate and the songs are very well constructed.  It's a sin that many great disks such as this remain unheard of by most, especially as is the case of Jack Foster, the music is absolutely advised.

http://www.rock-impressions.com/jackfoster4.htm

. . . over the years things have matured, and today our protagonists are ripening a sound that is a lot more mature and convincing, surely amongst the better music coming from the USA in the field of prog, even if I believe that we have not yet received what we deserve.

http://www.unprogged.com/showthread.php?t=3751

Compositional freshness, exquisite instrumental passages of rare sophistication, the listen-ability of the refrains and melodies from the very first soft sound are just some of the strengths of the trio, who move easily between different styles:  presenting progressive echoes of seventies rock and neo-prog with sophistication, but also with the simplicity of the more beatlesque catchy melodies, and the experimentation and sound balance of jazz, with the power of metal. . . . The strength of the disc thus lies not so much with the technical expertise with which the various styles are replicated, but with the homogeneity of the songs, even if composed, like already said, from very different spirits between them.  Honor of Merit to these three musicians, who can show that progressive rock is a genre that enjoys good health and still has a lot to say.

http://www.eutk.net/album.aspx/9754/8359/

Criticized after his last album "Tame Until Hungry" (2007) because it was not "prog" enough, Jack Foster returns to collaborate for the fourth time with Trent Gardner (Magellan) and Robert Berry . . . In the meantime, we taste this excellent work of song-based prog that proves that a real maturation has occurred.  Mixing his topics skillfully between war, personal relationships, spirituality, and politics; with a safe and clean vocal sound . . . Foster explores the territories of prog, rock, and jazz with great ease and ability by putting great care into the arrangements and composition of songs.  His search for a personal style is the most positive result . . .

http://www.hardsounds.it/PUBLIC/recensione.php?id=4731

Overall we can define 'Jazzraptor's Secret' the perfect continuation for the career of Jack Foster III, which may not satisfy all fans of prog, but certainly will allow him to create his own slice of connoisseurs and fans.  For the rest we can only say that this product of Progrock Records is of a high level, as is also the recording, and consequently the final yield of the CD in our home stereo.  A good companion disc for the journey, but only for the progster who is more opened to the contaminations from other genres.

http://www.metalloitaliano.it/Recensioni/dettaglio.php?id=736

With his fourth solo studio album,  the work of this great American singer/ guitarist continues to arouse attention.  Accompanied by exceptional musicians like Trent Gardner (Magellan) and Robert Berry, Jack Foster III once again demonstrates his ability to write incredibly personal and inspired compositions, where the properly understood rock mixes with progressive and jazz echoes, giving the whole disc a very special dimension and wrapping.  The voice is extremely warm and is made more valuable by the incursions of acoustic guitar, sophisticated orchestrations and refined arrangements. . . .Absolutely a must have ...

http://www.babylonmagazine.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4484&Itemid=0

Here the long-awaited annual return Foster, Gardner (Magellan) and Berry (Three, Hush, The December People) trio.  Four albums in five years which mark the birth and the maturity of one of the most interesting and original progressive rock formations.  Unclassifiable, indefinable, irrepressible: the sound of the three exits the standard scheme, and embraces progressive rock, jazz, funk, and the blues.  Jack Foster (California, USA), author and mastermind of the project, had already passed the test in three previous releases, that he is not locked into a box of definitions, understanding the music like an eruption of creativity, ranging far and wide, but above all unpredictable, bizarre, and at the same time attentive to quality and melody. . . . Its yield, due to the variety and versatility, makes it not too easily acquired for the time being. But this is a treasure hunt, which rewards those who arrive last.

GERMAN (translations)

http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_9472.html (2 reviews)

Wolfram Ehrhardt:

Overall, "Jazz Raptor's Secret" a convincing prog-pop disc, and probably in spite of my listening habits against other mainstream music, this disk will often spin within my CD player. . . .MUCH FUN!

Fix Sadler:

Jack Foster has prepared for the fourth time an impressive album with the American AOR angeproggten moments, light jazz and blues influences. . . .the present album is also very good and is fun. . . To that extent, I support (the previous reviewer), with a small but crucial difference:  Jack Foster III is never even close to compare with Unitopia! Jack Foster has bite, which leads also to the fact that one may give one hour of attention to its relatively catchy sound.  Nothing new from the American triumvirate, but consistently high quality. And sound and production is technically the "Berry" signature flagship in the Prog genre (why don't more bands use his help?).

http://www.ragazzi-music.de/progrockrecords.html

Jack Foster (vox, guitar), Trent Gardner (keys) and Robert Berry (drums, bass) reach a high level of quality on what is already their fourth collaboration.  Trent Gardner brings the intensity and agitation of Magellan's symphonic orgies, with Robert Berry adding structure with fine and amazingly violent playing for the complex, jazz-infused songs and with the boss Jack Foster singing these fabulous song structures whose first-class quality finds few comparisons today. 

Considerably more powerful than last year's album "Tame Until Hungry" and as progressive as "Raptorgnosis", these amazing songs are pressed on the disk.  The vocal parts are arranged as light song, but the volume always soars from those beginnings, with enormous adjustment breaking the way and pulling the songs into almost metallic hardness.  The bombastic factor makes the heart beat, the keyboards press vigorously on the pedal, and the band rocks until you ache! 

http://www.home-of-rock.de/CD-Reviews2/Jack_Foster_III/Jazzraptors_Secret.html

Ironically I, who for many years would put a large sheet around everything made that was somehow influenced by jazz, now take the music of the JACK FOSTER III band to my heart.  Well, maybe my tastes have changed or more precisely, have evolved after years of listening to music, or perhaps it is just that the variety of styles that JACK FOSTER III presents just fascinates me.  The band masterfully mixes pop, jazz, rock, fusion, and melodic rock with progressive rock in their music. . . . With "jazz Raptor's Secret", Jack Foster III delivers a great and melodic work at a high level. Class! 

http://www.heavy-metal.de/?id=13228

It appears the three men take joy in their music-making.  Music - and especially those compositions far from the mainstream and radio compatibility - is always a matter of taste, but this band should triple its listenership. The melodious songs on this album are certainly not a milestone in the history of music, but sound of quality and good classic craftsmanship. 

http://www.heavyhardes.de/review-4720.html 

The Jazzraptor is back! . . .Once again we hear relaxed melodic-progressive rock with occasional echoes of jazz and Jack's unmistakable voice.  Although this album is basically a typical prog-rock disc, the band succeeds in creating something of its own, producing some very harmonious songs. . . .A versatile headphone album without impotent, sagging tracks and unnecessary bells and whistles.  There's always something new to discover upon repeated hearings.  So toss out your Lasso and snatch yourself the Raptor!

http://allover-ffm-rock.de/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3952&Itemid=91

The problem with many Prog bands is that their music lacks catchiness, and consequently they limit their audience to a small group.  Jack Foster and his steady team since 2004,Trent Gardner and Robert Berry, get around this problem in a skillful, ingratiating way. . . . Finally, one must mention and praise the singing of Jack Foster.  A pleasant, clear voice that is somewhere between Glenn Hughes and the blessed Freddy Mercury calmly leads us through the ten songs of the fourth Jack Foster publication convincingly without flaw.

http://www.metal1.info/reviews/reviews.php?rev_id=3210

Moreover, it shows one thing quite clearly:  Trent Gardner is at his best when he can bring his ideas to the song-writing of other musicians.  . . . Gardner scores "Jazzraptor's Secret" with sophisticated songs decorated with arrangements that are anything but commonplace.  These three gentlemen have no doubt found and formed something like the Dream Team of mainstream prog.  An absolute secret tip!

http://www.metal-inside.de/frame.php?url=http://www.metal-inside.de/review.php?id=10596

Many prog purists will turn up their delicate noses at this offering, because the Jack Foster III trio dares to combine prog-influenced songwriter tracks with very strong acoustic guitar parts and mainstream melodies.  And it smoothly succeeds over almost the entire game time. 

http://www.rocktimes.de/gesamt/f/jack_foster_iii/jazzraptors_secret.html

So - great musicians, and to create great brainstorms - but easy to enforce with simple Schnulzigkeiten, which in turn is too rare to convince know. To me personally, this is quite unique blend of AOR, jazz, prog, funk and pop still halbseiden. Lens can be found but more light than shade, so prog fans quiet times should listen!

FRENCH (translations)

http://www.metalchroniques.fr/guppy/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=2353

It's better to forget the fantasy and to describe the eminently fine, delicate, and progressive music of our man.  Refined prog, which gives infinite care to the melodies, to the vocals (like the a capella intro to God and War, inevitably very Gentle Giant) and to the balance of the instruments.  Shouldered by two known names of the American prog scene -- Trent Gardner of Magellan and Robert Berry -- Foster delivers an album which breathes of musical quality and work well-done.  And without copying whoever, while managing to impose his own true indentity.  The pop or jazzy integrate themselves harmoniously into compositions that can pass from calm to the storm, acoustically to the symphonic.  And for those who throw an ear and an eye (or two) to the texts, they will find in Jazzraptor' Secret considerations which go from spirituality to the political, while passing through social problems and emotions.

Here is an artist who likes the shifts.  Moreover, after having thought about living his music, after his boredom with Real Estate, his manner of music-making is free and independent, and only motivated by the passion to write.

http://www.cosmosmusic.fr/nouveautes.html

. . . the talented U.S. singer guitarist continues its path with his fourth studio album. The mixture is still explosive and surprising . . . An essential to this end of the year!

http://www.progressive-area.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=929

Album anyway widely recommandable

http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=3651

"Jazzraptor's Secret" is not an essential album but its qualities are sufficient for you to give a minimum of attention, which he certainly deserves. A condition not to dwell on runways as short (with the advantage that they pass more quickly ... here is a new revolutionary!), you should live a moment quite pleasant.

http://www.magicfiremusic.net/chronique.php?cat=chronic&id=2370

. . . with Jazzraptor's Secret we still dive into a very jazzy and progressive Rock.  . . . "The Corner" has a beautiful organ as well as some powerful and interesting riffs.  "Dreaming Not Sleeping" is a most successful acoustic ballad that directs us towards the long piece of the album, "Mandlebrot World".  With ten minutes to the meter Jack Foster explores blues-jazz with a progressive slant that works very successfully.  "God and War" reminds me of Spocks Beard while "New The American" will astonish his small world with alternation of acoustic and electric moments.  Remarkable!  Just as the east "Sometimes When You Win" to the strong taste of Jazz. . .I might only add that this disk falls within the following categories: 1) "the album that is not expected", 2) "the album that has a slight tendency to become soporific (for just a short while) but that is still nice", and 3) "the album that is as good as the others".

http://www.leseternels.net/chronique.aspx?id=2855

Foster delivers a major piece of progressive rock which can be grasped and understood not just by the elite specialists, but also by any avid music lover.

NETHERLANDS (translations)

http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=12956&lang=en

Our headmaster Horst turned up a trick again: for the last load of this issue, this is the only record I received. But damn this is one hell of a record! This is one of such gems to put on more often afterwards, not only for my own pleasure but also to let it sink in some more. Now I am reasonably knowledgeable within the world of progrock, but after the first forty seconds of the first song it appears I'm not going to be able to get away with some simple references. 

. . . Jack Foster has a very nice voice to listen to and tells his stories completely naturally. Everything is of an astonishingly high level and that may not be so surprising considering the master behind all this was already an honours degree musician in 1981. Well, what else can I say that makes for a bit of extra sense; I'm still listening myself and will be for a long time for sure. What you may want to know though, is that this record has a very cheery tone throughout, so this is not made for the black souls that want to pass this winter in a cheerless mood. To all the others who seek beautiful and sincere craftsmanship with a passion for music I can only say: dive into the secret!

http://www.fileunder.nl/archives/2008/12/jack_foster_iii_jazzraptors_secret.php

It strikes me that the individual songs on this album do not particularly grab me; but I'm very much impressed with the album as a whole.  So this is not an album made for the shuffle feature of your player then; it is thoughtful prog with subtle technical highlights. 

http://www.progwereld.org/cms/?page_id=20010427

"Jazz Raptor's Secret", contrary to the title, is no mystery. It's just one nice disk.

HUNGARIAN (translation)

http://www.passzio.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15654

Intelligentsias and descant susceptible elhitetni , that this world is yet she's nice and is it interesting can be! This for it the airy musical the biggest merit! Everything trice experience , but mickle novelty or surprising revolution grain sincs in it! Yet , the first pillanatától the last the specific quality sense and impalpable valuable aura take towards! Tell so : the music miracles!

NORWEGIAN (translation)

http://www.streetswebzine.com/index.php?name=MReviews&op=show&rid=2752

. . . Here, you get comfortable prog rock with small elements from both jazz and blues, and references to both Spock's Beard and Magellan clearly shines through. Quiet parties are in the catchy guitar riffs, before it shifts to more floating and melodious parties, it is at all a very varied and solid album.

FINNISH (translation)

http://www.imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=8335

The most part, the disc contains a reflective, but at the same time, a good breezy prog where good song melodies are in the main role, not to mention high-quality playing and a fantastic production.

POLISH (translation)

http://www.mlwz.ceti.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2922&Itemid=26

Jack Foster III is an expert and greatly talented artist.

PORTUGUESE (translation)

http://fenixwebzine.blogspot.com/2008/10/jack-foster-iii-jazzraptors-secret-2008.html

http://issuu.com/rviegas/docs/checksound_n9_novembro08/66

. . . Brilliant compositions, great riffs and solos of guitar, a safe and competent rhythm section, keyboards and environmental fitted, all topped by the fabulous voice of Foster. But more rockers, sometimes more introspective, but always with great melody (both in instrumental and vocal). I really enjoyed. It will for sure to please fans of names like Genesis, Yes, Asia, Pendragon, Kansas or Magnum.