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Review:
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Last month I noticed a parcel from Finland in my mail
box, a further investigation revealed that it was send by
the Finnish band Progression. Perhaps they were inspired
by other Finnish band Mist Season because I have written
reviews about them on the Internet. Progression was founded
in 1976, they made a demo, did a few gigs and twenty years
later they were refounded by original member Harri Nokso
with “new members and new ideas”. And Progression even has
her own ‘rock-jazz event’ entitled Fusion (once featuring
fellow Finnish band Mist Season). In 2007 Progression released
her instrumental debut CD The Dream Of Cecilia, finally!
On this CD the band describes her music as ‘groovy jazzrock’,
influenced by Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham and John
McLaughlin. In the 9 meledic, mainly swinging compositions
I hear elements from Mahavishnu Orchestra, Al DiMeola and
JL Ponty, played very energetic and convincing: an adventurous,
often propulsive rhythm-section, powerful dual-guitarwork,
sparkling violinplay and some songs contain keyboards, it
sounds fluent and exciting, what a band! The only mellow
song is Bright Light From High featuring dreamy work on
acoustic – and electric guitar and a sitar-like sound. But
in general Progression indeed delivers ‘groovy jazzrock’
with strong interplay and cascades of solos on guitar (in
almost every song fiery work by the two guitarplayers, in
some songs dual guitarwork like in Nightmare and Hyperactive
Games), on violin (swirling in Nightmare, Gansta Race and
Mental Activity) and on keyboards (swinging Fender piano
in the titletrack and spectaculair synthesizer fights in
Bright Light From High, Hyperactive Games and Little Confusion).
To me this album sounds as a splendid tribute to the
Seventies jazzrock, highly recommended to the jazzrock aficionados!
www.progwalhalla.com
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