Abraxis (Belgium) for Jazz/rock Fusion?

Proposing Abraxis, a Seventies jazz/fusion band from Brussels. The music on their s/t fully instrumental album released in 1977 was an enjoyable mixture of flute dominated jazz, Canterbury inspired fusion and '70s funk.

Two of the musicians, keyboardist Charles Loos and bassist Jean-Paul Musette are known to some prog fans as being members of Belgian band Cos and performed on their first album `Postaeolian Train Robbery' (but departed before the second album `Viva Boma').



Definitely parts of the `Abraxis' album sound is still identifiable as Cos, although in a firmer jazz sound without the avant-garde vocal qualities and loopier elements of that band. As a lot of their music was dominated by piano and flute, it gives their sound a frequent Focus-like quality in parts too, actually quite classical and grand in a few moments here and there. Canterbury bands like Gilgamesh and the instrumental passages of National Health also come to mind. Needless to say, the musicianship is outstanding, and their almost 38 minute album flies by, not a poor moment!



- Charles Loos / keyboards, Fender Rhodes, mini-Moog, acoustic piano
- Jean-Paul Musette / bass
- Dirk Bogaert / flute (who would also guest on Cos' third album `Babel', also played in Canterbury-related band Pazop)
- Paul Elias / guitars
- Jack Mauer / drums (also played in Belgium's Waterloo on their `First Battle' album, Canterbury-related band Pazop,
- Tony Malisan - drums (also played in Esperanto)

Album: Abraxis (1977)

A1. Clear Hours (2:33)
A2. Valse De La Mort / A Boire / Et à / Manger (16:25)

B1. Sweetank( 4:30)
B2. Billy The Keith (4:00)
B3. Jeronimo (1:55)
B4. Bolle Winkel (6:45)
B5. Arhumba (1:45)

Total time: 37:34



(Please note: The above clip runs over an hour, but the album runs only to the 38:25 minute mark, this appears to be a vinyl rip)

The album was recently re-issued on CD from the Paisley Press label.

A beautiful album, can't stop playing it, very proud owner of the reissue!

Mellotron Storm wrote: Nice call Michael. They were talking about them on PE recently to do with Canterbury.

Oh no, John, have they already been proposed to the site? I didn't think to snoop in the Collabs groups, I just did a search on Google to see if they been previously proposed on the forum!

I dig the heck out of this album, mate! A blind-buy I simply purchased on the description alone that thankfully turned out well!

Added.