Bel Assis
	Produced by Mo Foster
	Released on March 1988
	no chart information
	Find it at GEMM
88561-1041-2 cover [high resolution scan]

T his is what I wrote years ago about this disc: Mo Foster (a session bassist of some renown) has released one solo album, an engaging collection of New Age & light jazz instrumentals named for his English home, Bel Assis. Foster serves as principal composer and instrumentalist, handling bass and keyboards, with tasteful accompaniment from guitarist Gary Moore, vibraphonist Frank Ricotti, and guitarist Ray Russell among others. At times suggesting Pat Metheny or any number of Windham Hill artists, the songs seldom fail to impress, especially the collaborations with Moore. The material is sometimes dreamy (“Analytical Engine”), sometimes substantial (“Pump II”), sometimes pretty (“A Walk in the Country”), and rarely dull. Foster mixes elements of progressive rock, new age and jazz with warm results on Bel Assis, creating an album that engages the listener without demanding too much attention. Considering that many artists have made a career out of less accomplished instrumental music than this, you have to wonder why there aren’t mo’ albums from Foster. Now, back to the present: I’ll stick by this today, with a few caveats. First, this is not a bass “chops” album, although Foster does give the fretless a good dusting on jazzier cuts like “Gaia.” Second, the progressive rock elements are actually few; this is much more a mixture of fusion and New Age. Thirdly, Stan Sulzman deserves a callout for his smooth soprano sax playing. Otherwise, by George, I think I got it right.

TRACK LISTING

1. THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES
2. A WALK IN THE COUNTRY
3. GAIA
4. CRETE REVISITED
5. SO FAR AWAY    (Mo Foster/Ray Russell)
6. ANALYTICAL ENGINE
7. PUMP II
8. JACO
9. BEL ASSIS
10. AND THEN THERE WERE TEN    (Mo Foster/Ray Russell)
11. NOMAD
    
    All songs written by Mo Foster unless noted

CREDITS

MO FOSTER -- basses, keyboards
RAY RUSSELL -- guitars
PETER VAN HOOKE -- electronic percussion, executive producer
Rod Argent -- keyboards
Dave Defries -- trumpet
Sal Gallina -- electronic wind instrument
Gary Moore -- guitar
Simon Phillips -- drums
Frank Ricotti -- vibraphone
Stan Sulzman -- soprano sax
Simon Smart -- engineer, mixing
Richard Dodd, Norman Goodman, Graham Lyons, Neil Richmond, Keiron Wheeler, Pat McCarthy, Frank Kelly -- additional engineers

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