VISSZA A VÁROSBA

A Progressive/Jazz Rock band from Budapest,Hungary, Mini were formed and led by its only consistent member, vocalist/flutist Adam Torok in 1968.The band had a good live activity and was signed by the biggest Hungarian rock label,Pepita, but the numerous line-up changes did not help them to release a full-length work in their early years.By mid-70's though, Mini started gigging in East-Europe (Poland,Bulgaria,Czech Republic) and they had a more stable line-up with Karoly Nemeth on keyboards, Alajos Nemeth on bass and Jeno Balogh on drums.The quartet would record Mini's debut ''Vissza a városba'' in 1978.

Good funky Jazz-Fusion with progressive twists is the style met in Mini's debut with keyboards and flutes on the front.Most of the tracks include nice electric piano and synths with groovy bass lines and drums supporting, along with a fair amount of flute soloing by Adam Torok.Yet the album includes also a couple of more demanding tracks like the fantastic instrumental Space- Fusion-esque ''Körbe-körbe'' with its hypnotic rhythms and flutes or the complex ''Héja-tánc'' with the complex keyboard work.However the whole album contains plenty of interplays between the pianos,synths and flutes with some excellent solos throughout,while Torok's voice is also a plus, blended well with the overall style.

I have seen around the net the band to be compared with Jethro Tull (propably due to the heavy use of flute),but that's very far from reality.''Vissza a városba'' is a good mix of energetic Jazz- Fusion with the Progressive Rock principles,good enough to be recommended to a wider audience than simply to Jazz-Rock lovers.Another East-European Jazz-Rock lost pearl,which deserves some more promotion.