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Jeff Green - Jessica CD (album) cover

JESSICA

Jeff Green

 

Neo-Prog

3.42 | 22 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Born in 1966 in Sacramento to American father and English mother, Jeff Green became a composer and music teacher, influenced by a mass of 70's Classic and Progressive Rock bands.After his parents divorced, he moved to England.There he played with a few cover and other bands, most notably North Pont Park, with whom he performed for over a decade.In 1996 comes the most touching moment of his life.His wife Jude was going to give birth to their daughter Jessica, but the baby was eventually stillborn.From this moment Jeff Green started the writing process of a tribute to his lost daughter, that was finished in 2009 and released privately in July.He got some serious helps over the years with three bassists, Mark Cunningham, Tim Vogt and Glenn Sissons, ex-Pallas' keyboardist Mike Stobbie, Pete Riley on drums and Phil Hilborne on guitar/vocals.Phil Aldridge contributed piano lines in a couple of tracks, all of the musicians were Green's former bandmates on his past groups.

There is no question that this is an emotional-heavy album with a touching and most importantly true story in the background, that reflects on several of the album's singing parts and Green's guitar playing.But ''Jessica'' is not all about melodic solos, sensitive soundscapes and keyboard ambiences.It's a well-crafted and pretty balanced album in the vein of modern Neo Prog with a huge space for instrumental lines and inspirations from CAMEL, PALLAS, KANSAS and JADIS, ending up to be a lovely, atmospheric Progressive Rock album, even for those who do not care about its background, even if they should.There are plenty of grandiose keyboard runs, heavier guitar lines and more upfront tempos in the album to satisfy lovers of more dynamic stylings, later-era PALLAS and PENDRAGON are good reference points during these moments.But the absolute highlights come from Green's more laid-back electric textures.The spark of his daughter comes alive through his excellent guitar solos, the keyboards in the background add a light symphonic flavor and the few piano themes are also along the emotional concept.Memorable and intense material with great instrumental parts along the best groups of British Neo Prog.

This is an album, that can be characterized as borderline strongly recommended.Not complex or even demanding, but fans of melodic Progressive Rock will love it.Great work, Jessica would be really proud of her father.

apps79 | 3/5 |

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