Mo Foster – Bel Assis

Debut album from one of Britain's finest (electric) bass players, with input from various MMC label mates of the day, incl. Rod Argent (keyboards), Peter Van Hooke (percussion) and Stan Sulzman (sax). Ace drumming from Simon Phillips (now resident in CA), tasteful guitar work from Ray Russell (who generally I don't rate much, though he was good on RMS's Centennial Park from 1984), whilst Gary Moore guests magnificently on the opening track and on Pump II, which here is a vastly superior arrangement and recording of a track that appeared originally on a very lacklustre Jeff Beck album from 1980. (Apparently Jeff Beck was booked for the job but suffered a broken thumb shortly before he was scheduled to do his bit). No vocals either.

It's very slightly spoiled by some rather sour soprano sax here and there but otherwise, Bel Assis is a total gem that just hasn't faded at all with the passage of time, freshened up as well with the benefit of digital remastering for its reissue on Angel Air records in 2003 ~ the original MMC issue wasn't at all bad, but the latest one is better still.

This is a magnificent contemporary instrumental album, with a variety of musical flavours, that I've never stopped enjoying this since its original release back in 1988. Its successor, Southern Reunion, isn't at all bad but it doesn't have quite the same sense of power and conviction as Bel Assis.