STRATUS LUNA — Stratus Luna (review)

STRATUS LUNA — Stratus Luna album cover Album · 2019 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Stratus Luna is a very youthful ( band members’ ages range from teens to early 20s) instrumental prog rock/fusion band from Brazil who have just released their debut album featuring music with a strong maturity that would lead you to believe you are listening to accomplished veterans. A good reference point for Luna’s music could be early 70s jazzy progsters such as those in the Canterbury scene, or even closer, famed Dutch quartet, Focus. The similarity to Focus is furthered by the band’s size (quartet), the way they alternate melodic guitar passages with Hammond B3 buildups and the fact that keyboardist Gustavo Santiago also doubles on flute. The 70s influence is there, but Luna also adds modern and personal influences from the worlds of electronica, post rock and Brazilian fusion.

Every track features those sort of eclectic arrangements favored by the prog rock crowd, but this is today’s prog, a little more streamlined and less indulgent than their 70s forebears. Ricardo is quite capable of intense fusion solos on the guitar, but he often favors a more melodic approach reminiscent of Phil Manzenera or David Gilmour. Some album highlights include, “O Centro do Labirinto” which features a classic huge Mellotron chorus that builds through upward spiraling chord progressions as it reaches for the heavenly beyond. “Zarabatana” is based on alternating sections of Brazilian fusion and Indian ambiance. “NREM-1” is free floating electronic soundscapes and “Pandas Voadores” features a sort of rock flavored swing feel. It also helps that the recording quality and production on here are excellent, the sound of Stratus Luna in the studio is massive.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Green Puma / Tropical Dandy Jazz Related Rock
THE LINK QUARTET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Vinny Golia Quintet : Can You Outrun Them? 21st Century Modern
VINNY GOLIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Bow Code Fusion
SAMPO HIUKKANEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthem For No Man’s Land Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ANDREAS SCHAERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cabaret Eclectic Fusion
MARIUS NESET
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Paper Plane Pilot
MIKE DE SOUZA
js· 43 minutes ago
Green Puma
THE LINK QUARTET
js· 46 minutes ago
Heavy Cream
SAMPO HIUKKANEN
js· 3 hours ago
Sunday afternoon
FURIO DI CASTRI
snobb· 16 hours ago
Harmônicos
FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed