ALLÉE DES TILLEULS

Another quartet among the huge amount of Jazz Rock bands emerging from 70's France.They were formed and led by the force of guitarist Mimi Lorenzini,ex-member of the famous (at least in France) psych/rock group Triangle,featuring also female singer/keyboardist Ann Ballester,who had released a personal EP in late 60's.EDITION SPECIALE debuted in 1976 on UAS Label with ''Allée des Tilleuls'',an album re-issued in 2002 on CD by Musea with three bonus tracks.

While the band is playing definitely on the jazzy side of rock,the album is quite easy- listening,delivering some catchy melodies and vocal harmonies among the most demanding pieces.Maybe trying to access a wider audience the band also included the great English track ''Tomorrow Mourning'' on the original version,a catchy song-based piece of music with some fine moog solos.Regarding the other material in "Allée des Tilleuls" and leaving some of the pleasant vocal lines apart,this is quite good-executed Jazz Rock with progressive and psych elements with a bassist delivering constantly funky and elegant bass lines.Instrumentally the band is very talented.Ballester has not only a very pleasant voice,but she is a great keyboardist as well,offering nice piano passages and mainly captivating synth parts,which range from atmospheric fillers to extended solos.Lorenzini changes his style all the time:His decent solos,catchy grooves and rural-edeged playing jazzy breaks will leave every Jazz Rock fan satisfied.The truth is I can't find any obvious similarities with BRAND X or MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA.Maybe their approach is much lighter than these bands or the female vocals makes them quite unique,that I can't compare them to any other band.

Final taste?This is an enjoyable and pleasant listening with a happy mood throughout.Not something you will play very often on your CD player,but an album,which leaves a good musical taste for every now and then.Recommended,especially to followers of Jazz/Fusion- tinged Prog.