Abraxis (Belgium)

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One album here.

Info from here:
Keyboardist Charles Loos and bassist Jean-Paul Musette are known to many
prog fans as members of the great Belgian band Cos, which also included
guitarist Daniel Schell and vocalist Pascale Son. Loos appeared on the
band’s first LP, Post Aeolian Train Robbery, and Musette was present on
tracks recorded in 1973 and early 1974 (which subsequently appeared as
bonus tracks on the CD reissue). Both were long gone by the time Cos
recorded their second LP, Viva Boma, in July 1976. The liner notes to
the CD re-issue of Post Aeolian Train Robbery allude to Musette’s desire
to play music that was more rooted in jazz, and the same was likely
true of Charles Loos. Clearly, Abraxis was the manifestation of their
desire to play complex, yet palpably jazz-based, original music. The
band's eponymously titled LP was recorded in December 1976, and released
on the "I. B. C." (International Bestseller Company) subsidiary of
EMI-Benelux. 
Besides Loos (on Fender Rhodes, miniMoog, and acoustic
piano) and Musette (electric bass), Abraxis also included flutist Dirk
Bogaert, guitarist Paul Elias, and drummer Jack Mauer (though Tony
Malisan plays drums on most of the LP’s 9 tracks). Several of these guys
played in other Belgian jazz-rock groups such as Placebo, Waterloo and
Pazop. Abraxis' sound is fairly close to that of Cos, albeit jazzier and
with Bogeart’s flute replacing Pascale’s vocals. Other stylistic points
of reference are Placebo (a Belgian jazz-rock fusion band led by
keyboardist / producer Marc Moulin), and the jazzier Canterbury-type
bands such as Gilgamesh and National Health. The compositions (by either
Loos or Musette) are all rather involved and multi-sectioned, though
there is plenty of room for lengthy solos by Loos (whose playing reminds
me a bit of Chick Corea’s), Bogaert, and the surprisingly excellent
Elias. The musicianship is first rate throughout - Musette is better
than solid, replacement drummer Tony Malisan is a monster, and guitarist
Elias is right up there with the likes of Phil Miller. They also cover
quite a bit of stylistic ground, from weird Zappa-like convolutions, to
flat-out funky fusion jamming, to neo-classical ruminations for acoustic
piano, acoustic guitar and flute. Fusion fans, flute fans, and those
who enjoy intelligent progressive rock in general, should seek this one
out. -- Dave Wayne 

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historian9 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: 06 Nov 2011 Status: Offline Points: 447	Post Options Post Reply Quote historian9 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Abraxis (Belgium) Posted: 22 Nov 2012 at 5:29pm
	One album here. Info from here: Keyboardist Charles Loos and bassist Jean-Paul Musette are known to many prog fans as members of the great Belgian band Cos, which also included guitarist Daniel Schell and vocalist Pascale Son. Loos appeared on the band’s first LP, Post Aeolian Train Robbery, and Musette was present on tracks recorded in 1973 and early 1974 (which subsequently appeared as bonus tracks on the CD reissue). Both were long gone by the time Cos recorded their second LP, Viva Boma, in July 1976. The liner notes to the CD re-issue of Post Aeolian Train Robbery allude to Musette’s desire to play music that was more rooted in jazz, and the same was likely true of Charles Loos. Clearly, Abraxis was the manifestation of their desire to play complex, yet palpably jazz-based, original music. The band's eponymously titled LP was recorded in December 1976, and released on the "I. B. C." (International Bestseller Company) subsidiary of EMI-Benelux. Besides Loos (on Fender Rhodes, miniMoog, and acoustic piano) and Musette (electric bass), Abraxis also included flutist Dirk Bogaert, guitarist Paul Elias, and drummer Jack Mauer (though Tony Malisan plays drums on most of the LP’s 9 tracks). Several of these guys played in other Belgian jazz-rock groups such as Placebo, Waterloo and Pazop. Abraxis' sound is fairly close to that of Cos, albeit jazzier and with Bogeart’s flute replacing Pascale’s vocals. Other stylistic points of reference are Placebo (a Belgian jazz-rock fusion band led by keyboardist / producer Marc Moulin), and the jazzier Canterbury-type bands such as Gilgamesh and National Health. The compositions (by either Loos or Musette) are all rather involved and multi-sectioned, though there is plenty of room for lengthy solos by Loos (whose playing reminds me a bit of Chick Corea’s), Bogaert, and the surprisingly excellent Elias. The musicianship is first rate throughout - Musette is better than solid, replacement drummer Tony Malisan is a monster, and guitarist Elias is right up there with the likes of Phil Miller. They also cover quite a bit of stylistic ground, from weird Zappa-like convolutions, to flat-out funky fusion jamming, to neo-classical ruminations for acoustic piano, acoustic guitar and flute. Fusion fans, flute fans, and those who enjoy intelligent progressive rock in general, should seek this one out. -- Dave Wayne

Sean Trane Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Location: Brussels Status: Offline Points: 789	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sean Trane Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Nov 2012 at 5:34pm
	I think I'm still waiting for the JR/F team in PA to tell me whether I can add this suggestion of mine
	my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicted musicians to crazy ones....

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 28448	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Nov 2012 at 2:50am
	added