GROUP 87

Combining jazz fusion, hard rock, AM pop, soul and L.A.-style shimmer, Mark Isham, Patrick O'Hearn, Peter Maunu and Terry Bozzio put together this little project in 1980. Though a bit sterile by today's progressive standards, it is a solid session during an interesting but breif period in instrumental music.

On this, the first of two records, the veteran studio players present a classy but not-too-serious selection of adult progressive fusion that is low-key while still quite adept, taking its time with nine medium-length cuts. The material moves along gradually with a relaxed penthouse pace but is broken up by passages of clever arranging and instrumentation, Isham's horn leading the way with layers of chords, Bozzio responding sympathetically in hand with O'Hearn's solid bass, and Peter Maunu providing some clean and foamy electric guitar on top with a few nice hard rock moments.

Little of it is cutting edge or exciting and some progsters will simply be bored by Group 87, but on a lazy afternoon it proves to be a simple, easy to digest slice of instrumental pie, pleasing, inoffensive and entertaining.