ORTODOXIA

Jarka were a short-lived Catalan band from Barcelona,recording between 1971 and 1975.They were formed by keyboardist Jordi Sabates after the demise of jazz-rockers Om.Sabates was supported by Alfonso de Lucas on bass,Danny Somoza on guitars and Pan Y regaliz'es drummer Pedro Van Eeckout.They released their debut ''Ortodoxia'' in 1971,as a result of Sabates most productive period.

The album opens with ''Osceli Rescaldat'',a number alternating between Blues and Jazz-Rock with interesting guitars,while the follower ''Popiada'' is in a more straight jazz vein with Sabates shining in some delightful piano passages.On ''Resposta'' Sabates performs alone in a light piano-based jazz number,but then the album gets too much into straight jazz with the rather long ''Sube la silla roja'',full of piano,bass and drum solos.''L.I.A.I'' is a decent slow Psychedelic-Jazz piece with haunting,organ and piano.Things will not change with ''Noche de Pez'',mainly a personal jazzy bass performance by De Lucas with the other members just supporting.''Retorna'' will add a different view on music by Sabates,performing on his piano and organ and twisting from Classical to Jazz music all the time.''No Estes Cohibido'' is a mediocre slow number of piano-driven instrumental Jazz with again some light Classical tendencies,while on the closing self-titled piece Jarka sound again as a band despite the jazzy piano and guitar solos,the sound is rich and the band is tight.

Unfortunately this album stands more as an example of individual performances rather than a full band performing due to the heavy soloing throughout.''Ortodoxia'' has little to offer to fans of well-structured demanding and progressive composing and heads only to dedicated fans of Jazz/Jazz-Rock...2.5 stars.