Bassist
Mo Foster, whose playing is sometimes reminiscent of that of
Jaco Pastorius, covers a great deal of ground on
Southern Reunion. The personnel and instrumentation is altered from track to track.
Foster pays tribute to later-period
Gil Evans ("Gil"), has a showcase for vibraphonist
Frank Ricotti ("Blue"), plays the Japanese-oriented "Achill Island," and jams on the date's one non-original, "Tricostism." "A Notional Anthem" is somber, "Southern Reunion" is somewhat catchy, and "Grand Unified Boogie" (featuring guitarist Snail's Pace Slim) is both complex and danceable. On "Fractal Landscape,"
Foster plays all the instruments (basses, keyboards, and electronic percussion) to create atmospheric music. Among the key soloists on the other selections are flutist Ray Warleigh, trumpeter Stuart Brooks, and the sopranos of
Iain Ballamy and
Stan Sulzman. This is a continually interesting CD that grows in interest with each listen, showing that
Foster is an underrated songwriter. ~ Scott Yanow