ROADSIDE PICNIC

Megan Quartet is one of the best jazz bands and most pleasent surprises I've heared in a long time, soon becoming one of my fav albums ever. Born in Estonia in 1997 and formed around excellent musician Tarvo Kaspar Toome (guitar and vocals), Megan Quarted had some difficulte times in their early days, line up changes and so on, manageing to release a single album so far in 2008 named Roadside picnic , issued at MKDK records. This album contains as booklet said music recorded between 1997-2000 and mixed between 2002-2008 the album saw the light in 2008. 5 pieces grace the album, lenghty , elaborated and very tuneful arrangements overall. Megan Quartet is offering some combination between jazz fusion with free jazz improvisations and canterbury moments and progressive parts, a very rare thing these days in prog world and jazz, when most of the bands are or straight jazz fusion or jazz rock. Anyway I have a soft spot for this band, the combinations offered here are almost perfect , the opening track Kolmekesi or Threesome in english is simply said killer, the canterbury feel is all over and melted with jazz elements give a very unique sound , elaborated, some great use of sax and keybords, the druming aswell is very uplifting and well performed, perfect, I love this piece, I think the best of the album. All pieces stands as great no weak moments, this album is far more intristing in arrangements, musicianship and compositional manner, the dynamics of the music, the interplay between musicians is diverse and top notch, then on most jazz bands from these days or past years. Roadside picnic is a priceless document in present music that needs to be discovered by more liestners as possible, fans of progressive rock, jazz fusion have plenty of good moments here. 4 stars for sure, I found it very enjoyble, the cover art is simple but simply great and shows exactly how the music is, gentle, smooth, elegant, full of greatness that takes you on a journey on bicycle, that's why the bike become band's logo. Warmly recommended.