Instrumental Progressive Rock

I already have a huge collection of jazz-fusion records, but there is a similar style that I would like to know more about.

A good name for this style might be mostly instrumental progressive rock that mixes jazzy improvisational sections with more melodic composed sections.

Some bands that come to mind are early Santana, Ozric Tentacles, Quiet Sun, Phil Manzenera and some of Focus.
Some related albums would include, Passport's Doldinger, Soft Machine III, Crimson's Great Deceiver and McLaughlin's Devotion.
Some related songs would include, Girl so Fine and 3rd Stone by Hendrix, Wot Gorilla and Los Endos by Genesis, Bullfrog, When the Apple Blossoms ... and Tank by ELP.

Can anyone recommend some more music like this? Please don't give me a long list, 3 or 4 albums would be fine. Also, if someone recommends an album that you agree with let me know. Multiple recommendations are what I am looking for here.

I already know I need to check out more National Health and Gong. Can anyone recommend a Gong album that doesn't have so much silliness. Also I am very interested in hearing about bands from Italy and South America.

Thanks

Edited by Easy Money - March 07 2008 at 12:06

I don't want to sound like a "one trick pony" but if you particularly enjoy 'Wot Gorilla' and 'Los Endos', and want exciting instrumental prog with a jazzy edge, try Kenso's FABULIS MIRABILIBUS. They don't come better than that. Also, there's a great band from France, very much in the tradition of the Hatfields and Soft Machine III: Forgas Band Phenomena.

John, I think it may have to do with the number of posts in the thread... Just a wild guess, though. Perhaps you'd better take the issue up again, so that it doesn't repeat itself.

Edit: the thread was moved to the Prog Recommendations section, which usually doesn't appear on the front page. So, that seems to be the reason.


Edited by Ghost Rider - March 07 2008 at 13:23

Another vote for National Health.

In addition, if you're looking to try out South American bands, Crucis is a perfect starting point. Both their albums are usually available on a one CD set ("Cronologia" or "Kronologia," depending on which label you find it). The second album is the one that boasts the most instrumentals. One track bears a strong fusion flavour ("Pollo Frito"), while the other two are longer and more epic in scope. "Los Delirios del Mariscal" offers a lumbering psychedelic riff before giving you two minutes of chaos, while "Abismo Terrenal" is one of the ballsiest prog songs ever... the energy never fades during its 12 minutes and each member throws in a raucous solo. Crucis... its a heck of a band, and well worth your time.

Has anyone said PFM - Stati di Immaginazione yet?

darqDean wrote: Easy Money wrote: I already know I need to check out more National Health and Gong. Can anyone recommend a Gong album that doesn't have so much silliness. You'll be needing the Pierre Moerlen led version of Gong, who were jazz-rock rather than Canterbury/Space Rock of the Daevid Allan led version and devoid of silliness.   1976 - Shamal 1977 - Gazeuse! (aka Expresso) 1978 - Expresso II   (there is a compilation featuring tracks from these three albums called Wingful of Eyes)   ...and albums after this date that are titled Pierre Moerlen's Gong.

Thanks again for the suggestions guys, all of them are great.

David, I like Hanson's Lord of the Rings a lot. Is there another Hanson album you would recommend.

Soft Machine - Fourth, Fifth, Seven

Though not entirely prog in the sense I think you're speaking of, and more post-rocking than anything, Omega by The Cancer Conspiracy is a great instrumental album, as far as I'm concerned (though it does have some mild flaws...).

Listen here.

Avantgardehead wrote: Has anyone said PFM - Stati di Immaginazione yet?

I second this recommendation. It might be exactly what you are looking for.