BIS

Not exactly named originally, Bis sports a slightly different feel, often taking the cool latino fusion with Devos's marimba being a bit too systematically spread over the whole album, reminding us of Uzeb tiring obsessions, but mainly for the Moerlen's Gong. The sax player was also different, as Rangell had replaced Kzrewina. The Canterbury influences are unfortunately a bit more absent often surging momentarily in the middle of a track (like Summer Homework), but never hanging around long enough, to this writer's tastes. The fact that three years have gone since their debut is obviously an understandable factor of changes of ambiances, but Bis is also a typical product of the JR/F scene of those years. Not that AD has gone soft, either, as their fusion is still extremely technical (Phaedra), but I find it cold. Not my favourite, but I'm not the only one thinking so, either.

The follow up from their excellent debut album. The follow up and a change of direction. An unfortunate change of direction.

Bis is a jazz album with a Latin flavour. Not the language with the same name but with Latin as in Latin America. The likes of Santana and the Caribean islands. There are some salsa flavours here. But this is mainly a straight jazz album with woodwinds and some guitars. The percussions are great here.

This album is rather good. It's achilles heal is the lack of any real great tracks. This album trundles along nicely from start to finish with some good non offensive jazz. The musicians are great but they cannot save an album which comes across as too safe and too dull. Hence my verdict.

2.5 stars