The funky pop "Ricochet," backed by the (non-album track) pretty, emotive show-stopper "Every Day's the Same" could barely prepare listeners for the arrival of
Jonesy, the British group that tore across the prog rock scene in the early '70s. The band released three albums on the legendary Dawn label, and now Esoteric has compiled them all in their entirety, along with their sole single, for the two-CD
Masquerade: Dawn Years Anthology. "Ricochet" was an edited track from
Jonesy's debut album,
No Alternative, a superb set that fused improvisational jazz to prog rock, but also encompassed R&B, funk, and in the case of "Mind of the Century," the exotic Far East. Unusually, jazz bassist
David Paull oftentimes carried the song's melody, and even took a number of solo spins across the set. The lineup shifted dramatically soon after, with the addition of brass, woodwinds, and a new rhythm section, as well as a heavy reliance on orchestral strings. Thus it was a very different sounding
Jonesy that released
Keeping Up, a set even more adventurous than their debut, breaching even more genres, with guitarist
John Evan Jones' new wah-wah pedal used to maximum advantage. There were a few introspective numbers within, but the bulk were extravagant journeys across myriad genres, filled with shifting moods and tempos, most spectacularly across "Masquerade" and the epic "Children." 1973's
Growing, produced by
Rupert Hine sounded phenomenal, but was a flawed set, with the epic "Jonesy" showcasing the band's disintegration from improvisation into unfocused overindulgence. There were still grand moments to be found, however, with the powerful "Can You Get That Together" and coursing "Know Who Your Friends Are" the obvious highlights, and the solo-packed title track also of interest. Too often, though, the pieces don't quite jell, with the musicians refusing to connect with each other, except to do battle. The set features some exhilarating musical duels, surely a sign of tensions within. Regardless, all three sets have been long sought after by prog rock fans, and their reissue in one package will invariably thrill fans. ~ Jo-Ann Greene