EZOO

Ezoo is yet another promising band that includes former members from the Neo Prog act CAST, Carlos Humaran (Guitars)and Kiko King (Drums), along with a current musician of the same group, Flavio Miranda (Bass) and the talented Chapman stick player and vocalist Linda Cushma, from USA.

The band released their debut album this year and was produced by PRIMUS' dummer Tim Alexader who has also a short vocal partipation on the CD, being actually an almost instrumental album with only a couple songs with voice. The sound of the band is a mixture of influences going from Jazz, Rock, Latin, Funk and a slight touch of Metal, Blues and even Pop. Anyhow, they have a fresh cohesive style that is distinctive and melodic, rhythmic and creative.

The album starts with "Blue Belly Gecko", a good tune with a funky feeling and a heavy guitar to progress later to a jazzy number with many changes and excellent rhythm.

"Crazy Beautiful Life" is not a bad track but is quite simple and sounds like the 'single' of the CD and has a pop edge. Nevertheless the guitar solo is very good and the voice of Linda makes it very accesible to the 'common ear'.

"Jungle Bread" brings us back to the same mood of the 1st song with great melodic Jazz moments and catchy rhythm, with some interesting movements. "Spring Rain" starts nicely with acoustic guitar to inmediately become a jazz/funk track with the voice of Linda just 'talking' and then a melodic chorus by both Linda and Tim Alexander with beautiful guitar on the back.

"Tango" is another exellent song with Ms. Cushman and her Stick shining all over and Carlos Humaran doing a great job with the guitar too.

"11:57" is a slow cadency track at the beginning, to later turn into a heavy 'Zeppelinesque' song. Very intersting piece.

"G-Jam" is the shortest in the album but very powerful and dynamic, as the title says, good jazz jam.

"Zocalo", on the opposite side, is the longest and one of the best,very good bass line, bluesy rhythm with the Chapman and guitar giving the song a nice atmosphere and a strong finale. Great way to finish the album.

As i said on the top, this is a very promising band with talented and experienced members which had been in the Prog scene already and surely know how to do things. Hopefuly they manage to alternate their other projects with this band and be able to continue for a long time.

Excellent debut. 4 stars.

Viva el Prog!