Band: Jack Foster III

CD Title: “Jazzraptor’s Secret”

Label: ProgRock Records

Label Website: www.progrockrecords.com

Release Date: 2008

This is the fourth release from the classically schooled Jack Foster III and the fourth time he’s collaborated with both Trent Gardner (Magellan) and Robert Berry. Taking time from his other band projects and a day-job in real estate, Foster has steadily developed a signature sound that crosses paths with the bombastic-symphonic style of Magellan and the more pop-oriented symphonic influences of Berry. This new release entitled Jazzraptor’s Secret is really the best of all those influences. The three participants here make for a very full and lush sound; there’s Foster (vocals, guitar), Gardner (keyboards) and Berry (drums, bass). I’m not at all sure how much Foster’s degree in Music Composition and Theory has helped him create his music but I sure like the sounds he makes.

The music on Jazzraptor’s Secret is a set of 10 songs ranging from four to nine-minutes. Stylistically there is an overall symphonic feel. The focus is clearly on the song, sometimes short, sometimes long but it’s about the song and that causes melodies to be the driving force. Any and all musicianship is there to support the composition rather than be the focus in itself. That means that while there are some obvious musical twists and turns, solos and instrumental detours are kept to a minimum. They are there, especially in the longer songs like “Mandelbrot World” [9:08] but even here they’re more for musical crescendos, accents or transitions than they are to show off. The arrangements are very lush, layered and full of sounds which is what really gives off the proggy or symphonic feel to this music. You hear lots of organ and string keyboards mixing it up with both electric and acoustic guitars. Songs will feature plenty of musical dynamics, relying on acoustic intros or middle sections and using electric guitars to build the intensity as in a song like “God and War” [8:00]. The keyboards also provide other musical accents like flutes and sonic-atmospheres creating tons of dramatic tension. Bottom line is these songs present themselves as grand visions. Jazzraptor’s Secret is full of majestic sounds all in the service of some very powerful melodies and musical themes.

If all of that sounds like music that will appeal to you,Jack Foster III should be an obvious pick. My guess is that Jazzraptor’s Secret would appeal to fans of bands such as Spock’s Beard, Magellan, Frost* and certainly Robert Berry’s musical efforts. This is a great collection of songs that just sound right.