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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

John Vanore & Abstract Truth

Easter Island Suite

Review by Gary Hill

This is such an intriguing set. It features four extended pieces. The music here is not progressive rock, but it is art music. It’s often free form and, although more jazz than anything else, it often has classical music in the mix. That said, electric guitar brings some King Crimson references on the epic closing number. John Vanore is the composer and he plays trumpet, so that instrument is prominent, but there are plenty of parts where other instruments are in control, including an extensive piano solo.


This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2026  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2026.

Track by Track Review
Discovery

Horn brings this in and holds it in a slow moving, evolving arrangement. This eventually shifts direction to a driving jazz jam that is very classy. It continues to grow and change with different instruments taking the lead. Around the halfway mark (this track is almost 13 minutes long) piano takes over for a short time. A horn rises up to join and we’re in a new jam. This really gets powerful with its smoking hot fusion jamming as it works forward.

Gods and Devils

Just over seven minutes long, this would be a long piece on most albums. Here, it’s the shortest number of the whole disc. This has more traditional jazz built into it. It still features more out there stuff and an ever changing arrangement, though. It’s another winner. There are some particularly powerful moments before this thing is over.      

The Secret Caves

Almost eleven minutes long, this is the second shortest piece here. It comes in fairly mellow and tentative. There is quite a bit of world music in the mix on this thing. It also has more powered up, purely jazzy things at play. It turns really trippy and spacey around the seven minute mark. That eventually gives way to more of a mainstream jazz jam. This is a real dynamic and artistic number that has some hints of classical music on the closing movement.

Rano Raraku- Journey to the Lake

Over 15-and-a-half minutes long, this is the epic of the set. It comes in with a tentative jazz arrangement. Percussion takes over after a time. The track begins to explore from there as it continues to grow in tasty jazz ways. There is some particularly cool piano work at times here, and an almost freaky vibe. Fusion and spacey vibes are hears as this continues to evolve. As this approaches the halfway mark, electric guitar brings a bit of a King Crimson vibe in a very freeform jazz treatment. This thing gets driving and crazed as it continues to build and that guitar solos like crazy. This continues to explore various sonic movements with different vibes taking command at different times There is a piano solo later, and that instrument paints some intriguing pictures with its melodies. It get a little trippy at times, but it also has some rather classical moments. The piano solo section ultimately ends the piece, and the album, in style.

 
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