After collaborating with
Gabor Szabo on such superb efforts as
More Sorcery and
Dreams, bassist
Louis Kabok and drummer
Hal Gordon further embraced jazz-rock fusion under the
Advancement aegis, issuing their sole LP in 1969. The opening "Juliet" establishes a dark, moody atmosphere immediately bolstered by the intriguing "Painful Struggle," with its eerie vibes and
Kabok's extended bass bridge. "Moorish Mode" is
Gordon's star turn, highlighted by an impressively restrained drum break. But it's the most overtly rock-influenced cuts that make
Advancement worth seeking out, in particular "Fall Out," an impressively heady mélange of jazz, hard rock, and psychedelia. ~ Jason Ankeny