FOLLY SEEING ALL THIS

This is not so much a jazz rock fusion album as it is a chamber piece. But it is highly progressive, and extemely enjoyable.

The primary piece on this album is the title work, Folly Seeing All This. This twenty eight minute composition is mainly played by the Balanescu Quartet. It begins with a sound similar to some of Bartok's chamber pieces, and flows along until Michael Mantler comes in on his trumpet. The strings carry it along, through many passages, until it begins to sound like some of Frank Zappa's string compositions. It's quite compelling.

The second piece, News is just beautiful. Again, it is built upon the Balanescu Quartet's string foundation, but it's Wolfgang Puschnig's flute, and Rick Fenn's guitar that just send the music soaring.

The last piece is good, but not as good as the other two. It has kind of a Steve Reich minimalist vibe, with Jack Bruce and Karen Mantler trading lines of a Samuel Beckett poem.

Progressive, but not prog rock, but still 4 stars.