Rickter Scale Show 205 - Three Greats from 2008

[Rick and Roll]

airing Sunday, December 7 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday, December 8 from 1-4 PM EST on www.auralmoon.com

This week, only three artists - but full CD's by each. The first is a long awaited release, the second is an unexpected release, and the third is one I'd forgotten about. All three, however, are stellar.

Karcius - "Episodes"

Elements - Submersion, Sol, Combustion 30:46
Incident 8:39
Levant 2:26
Purple King 7:36
Racines 8:54

These guys just get better and better, if that's possible. Heavy fusion with lighter jazz elements - this is their third CD and the "Elements" piece is as good as last record's "Lunatik". French-Canadian band that I hope that's around for a long time.


Asturias - "In Search of the Soul Trees"

Spirits
Revelation
Reincarnation
Fountain
Woods
Pilgimage
Paradise
Storm
Soul Trees
Dawn

Yoh Ohyama is a very talented man who has several records in the past 15 years under the band Asturias. Although Yoh is capable playing everything, there are a few guests on vocals, violin, and lots of other instruments. He's billed ai as a Mike Oldfield sound, and although I see the similarity, I like this a bit more. I have "Brilliant Streams" (which we will hear next week), and it's awesome. I was not disappointed with this at all. Here's about 1/4 of the CD:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...oID=47029 991

Hope that whets the appetite...

Jack Foster III (with Trent Gardner and Robert Berry) - "Jazzraptor's Secret"

Jazzraptor's Secret
The Corner
To Have and to Hold
Outbreak Monkey
Dreaming Not Sleeping
Mandelbrot World
God And War
The New American
Inspiration
Sometimes When You Win

He's done it again. Jack's fourth CD is another winner. As usual, Trent Gardner supplies the keys and Robert Berry the bass and drums and more keys. There's a guest or two, and Trent does not play on two of the songs (you will have to BUY the CD to know which ones). It's too early to tell whether I like this one the best (the previous two were top rate, with the debut close behind), but I do know there's not a dog on the record. OK, actually on the last record there's a "Civilized Dog" but that doesn't count! Well-produced, and Jack's guitar and lead vocals (with backing by the others) is as good as ever.

A lot of superlatives thrown around, but I assure you they're well deserved.


Next week I'm all over the place.....