ESCENES

The Catalon music scene has certainly given us a lot of beautiful music--and Escenes is one shining example; perhaps even the highest point of the region's contributions.

1. "Escenes de La Terra en Festa I de La Mar en Calma" (4:02) a Chick Corea/Joe Sample like display of keyboard-led artistry. I like the second half's dreamy reverbed flute passage the best. (8.75/10)

2. "Imprompt I" (5:53) more impressive whole-band weaving that sounds very much like something from the Los Angeles pop jazz/jazz rock scene of the same period (session musicians who participated on Steely Dan, Tom Scott, Joe Sample, Crusaders albums and the like). (8.75/10)

3. "Jocs d'Ocells" (3:33) a gentle, contemplative soft jazz start that is led by flute and supported by some very nice piano play reminds me very much of some of FOCUS' most beautiful songs--like "Love Remembered" and "La Cathédrale de Strasbourg." Very enjoyable. (9/10)

4. "La Revolucio" (4:08) a wonderfully engaging, cheerful, almost childishly optimistic song (9.5/10) 5. "Danca d'Estiu" (3:30) awesome upbeat, uptempo folk-infused song with great melodies coming from the keyboards and flutes with very tight rhythm section beneath. (9.25/10)

6. "I Tu Que Ho Veies Tot Tan Facil" (5:39) more somber symphonic fare (due to the presence of church organ) this one is more keyboard-led and Celtic in melodic sensibilities making it sound as if it could come from the mind and hands of a keyboard wiz like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, or Pär LIndh. (8.875/10)

7. "Historia d'una Gota d'Aigua" (10:14) opens as a gorgeously pastoral guitar and multi-track flute-based folk suite. The development is slow and subtle, and the complexity is lacking some sophistication, but it is definitely a pleasant listening experience. (17.5/20)

Total Time: 36:59

A wonderful display of regionally-based melodies and highly mature and impressive compositions from virtuosic musicians. Too bad the band did not thrive and continue.

A-/4.5 stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music bumped up for its overall consistency and skillfulness.