OPUS I

The idea behind the Brazilian act Diapasao (from Belo Horizonte) belongs to keyboardist Rodrigo Lana, who wanted to build a project where the members could come up with an instrumental music filled with both technique and feelings.He recruited bassist/guitarist Gustavo Amaral and drummer Fabiano Moreira, who completed the first Diapasao line-up.The trio recorded the debut ''Opus I'' in 2005 at Elierim Studios in Belo Horizonte and the Brazilian label Masque Records released the CD the following year.

The musicianship is pretty much centered around Lana's work on keyboards and piano and the style is almost swirling around a Classical Music basis.However the tracks show much diversity, ranging from Classic Prog to Chamber Music and from Classical/Folk to Jazz.Therefore the listener is hard to keep up with the listening throughout the album due to the variety of atmospheres, but this does not lower the high quality of the music a bit.A pair of tracks have a strong keyboard-based Symphonic Rock attitude in the vein of RICK WAKEMAN with strong piano/organ/harsichord fanfares and a very grandiose atmosphere, supported by a very dynamic rhythm section.Some pieces evoke more to pure Classical Music, structured around Lana's massive work on piano and surrounded by violins and/or a light rhythm section.The shorter tracks have more of a folky vibe with acoustic guitars on the forefront and some sort of Brazilian color around.Among the pieces the listener can find a few jazzy bits, but the entirely jazzy composition ''Jazz'' seems totally misplaced and simply out of the general mood.The result is an album halfway between Classical/Folk and Progressive Rock with a very professional approach.

I find ''Opus I'' not to be totally conveincing to the ears of the average prog fan but is definitely an album with a high level of execution and composing, that is sure to satisfy lovers of Classical Music and Symphonic Rock.Recommended overall.