Detailed Reviews [Jaime Rosas Trio - 2004 - "Extremos"]

Prolusion. JAIME ROSAS TRIO consists of the former members of the Chilean progressive band Entrance, which was part of the international Progressive Rock movement during the '90s, so they aren't novices in this walk of life. Besides, "Extremos" is already the second album by the trio.

Synopsis. Well, the band is a trio, and, playing trumps:-), I can tell you that the archetype of their music is Classic Progressive of the '70s, and the album features little overdubs, retaining a distinctive live feel throughout. But although these are rather eloquent if not telltale signs, this is not the case when, having just learned them, you can steer your thoughts into the right areas and get a more or less clear idea of where these Chilean men go in their creation. The album is full of surprises, catching the listener everywhere, and about a half of its contents don't belong with the music, which is traditionally typical for keyboard trios. According to the CD booklet, the band's main man, keyboardist Jaime Rosas, penned all the compositions. However, as you will see below, he is not the only hero in this show. I am even inclined to think that a couple of tracks were written by Rodrigo Godoy, who handles all sorts of guitars, bass included, and also sings (on the epic last track). Who would expect that already the second track would not contain keyboards at all? Only some parts of bass on Breve Pieza Rockera-VII were elicited from synthesizer - either directly or with the use of bass pedals. The music is a dynamic, mostly high-speed and rather harsh guitar Art-Rock in the best traditions of the genre, but without any resemblances to those of whom you've just though about, Rush, nor any representative of that direction. All the same words are topical with regard to the Part IX of the piece (5) where there are literally a couple of synthesizer passages, flashing somewhere in the middle. Two tracks: Sonido Vital Uno and Tiempos de Paz present Rosas's solo performance. Each is a piece of serious Classical Music, a little symphonic concerto for piano. The piano, strings and acoustic guitar-based Sonido Vital Dos has a similar perspective, though there are a few repetitions. I am not sure that I am able to depict the fourth track, featuring perhaps more solos of bass and drums than those of keyboards. It's like watching an eruption from a safe place. There is no electric guitar, but the music is heavy, powerful, and mesmerizing, so I'd call it a unique Cathedral Symphonic Rock. These men are full of inspiration and have a luxuriant imagination, not to mention that they are gifted composers, very inventive arrangers, and fantastically virtuosi musicians. The remaining three compositions (1, 7, & 9) can be compared to classic ELP, but only stylistically and only partly. Still, many solos of bass are high-speed and pronouncedly heavy simultaneously (many progressive bassists should take lessons from Rodrigo to be on par with him), so the sound of Jaime Rosas Trio will always be immediately recognizable for anyone 'in the know', and I believe there'll be many. The guitar solos and piano passages return on the last 15-minute track, which is the only song and is the container of all the styles presented on the recording, though there also are the bits of Jazz-Fusion (drum solo) and real Cathedral Metal (guitar riffs).

Conclusion. Indeed, "Extremos" is in many ways an extreme album, in the most positive meaning of the word. The band covers several different music styles, easily toying with complex meters and everything, which is of help to make their music a really dainty progressive dish. It's a classic for the future, without a doubt. (>Top-20)

VM: August 18, 2004