Record Reviews

RAIZ DE PEDRA ~ AO VIVO GENS 008 ~ BRAZIL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1987 Released: 1999 2nd album, recorded live, by one of the most interesting South American groups - the instrumental quintet Raiz De PedraFind albums by this artist from Brazil. Although often referred to as a jazz group, they play a completely original type of music, with a lot of jazzy influences but very far from conventional jazz. In fact they are much closer to RIO groups, like Univers ZeroFind albums by this artist, than to any mainstream jazz. Fronted by the excellent reeds and flute player Márcio TubinoFind albums by this artist, they play their “far out” music with ease and elegance. The compositions are very unconventional, with offbeat rhythms and tempos. The guitar and keyboards (when not soloing) often support the saxophone by creating layers of electronic sounds and the rhythm section (strengthened by a guest percussionist) provides a polyrhythmic drive. In short this is one of those uncanny albums that make your ears stand up when you hear it for the first time and tempt you to return to it time after time to really get it all. Warmly recommended.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

RAIZ DE PEDRA ~ TRAJETÓRIA EDITIO PRINCEPS 15 (Barcode: 7898901556152) ~ BRAZIL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1983 - 1987 Released: 2008 1st album by brilliant Brazilian group Raiz De PedraFind albums by this artist, which combines Prog, Jazz and Brazilian elements into a unique experience, rarely achieved by others, released now for the first time on CD. Influenced by a wide scope of music from King CrimsonFind albums by this artist to Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist and of course Brazilian Masters like Egberto GismontiFind albums by this artist and Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist, their music could be compared to some of the experiments by European RIO groups, but overall they are just completely in their own world, which of course is great. All the band members are splendid instrumentalists but the reeds player Márcio TubinoFind albums by this artist is simply phenomenal. The original album is expanded here with one early (pre album) track and live material taken from their 2nd (recorded live) album "Ao VivoFind albums with this title", which is sadly out of print now. I can wholeheartedly recommend this album to any Prog / RIO/ Jazz-Rock fan, as they will surely not only enjoy it, but also discover a new world of music, which surely deserves to be heard.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend