Reviews

With his 4th release as a leader, Jack Foster III again appears with Magellan leader Trent Gardner and multi-musical talent Robert Berry for yet another Raptor influenced recording. And as he has in the past, he has taken many styles of music, least of which would actually be considered progressive rock, and created yet another full-length cd. A few things, at this point I was actually surprised to see that he was still creating music with these same collaborators, this speaks to the idea that both Gardner and Berry must find Jack Foster III a real force to work with. I had assumed that the Jack Foster III - Evolution of Jazz Rapto, was a one shot kind of thing. Yet here we are 4 cds later, and not only is he still going strong, but to my ears here, this is the very best material I have heard from him yet...
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=27121

...His new album with Trent Gardner and Robert Berry is out now under the moniker Jack Frost III – Jazzraptor’s Secret. Here we got a very interesting record for sure mixing many Progressive Rock, and Fusion elements. I can even notice some Pomp Rock touches here and there into the vein of Asia or IQ just to mention some bands to make you understand. All those gathered under a smooth production, presented under ultra technical structures, with melody and emotion let to be the top of the musical mountain after all. Brilliant acoustic guitar parts are mixed with stormy Prog breakings, Epic / Pomp bridges, Queen-inspired multi vocal choruses and psychedelic keyboard parts. You can also add those adventurous, narrative guitar solos to the puzzle, yes they are a top feature in here. Well this is a Progressive Rock storm my friends!..
www.metalpaths.com/reviews/jack-frost-iii-–-jazzraptor’s-secret,1124

Portuguese review
fenixwebzine.blogspot.com/2008/10/jack-foster-iii-jazzraptors-secret-2008.html

Portuguese review
fenixwebzine.blogspot.com/search?q=jack+foster

German review
www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_9472.html

German reviews
www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_9472.html#15076

Italian review
blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=361476805&blogID=450712139

...Foster has a very soothing, strong and excellent voice and he uses all those to the full, along the way on this fine release! Im so very pleased, for every spin I give this outing (and believe me there have been many, over the past few days!) the music grows, the songs flow and the musicianship just blows me away!! Talking musicianship, not only is Foster a superb singer and composer, he is also extremely talented on that six stringed thing, we call guitar!! It is at times quite amazing!! Oh yes, it is...one minute you get powerchords, then next fast and furious solo guitar, laid back jazzy intervals, picks, licks, acoustic magic and well you name it, its all here!! Aided by the former mentioned gentlemen and prog icon´s par excellence Berry (Bass,drums, keys and vocals) and Gardner (Keys and vocals) it all ads up. This is a brilliant prog/westcoast/artrock album!!! There are absolutely NO excuse, for you the true music lover, this is a MUST own!!..
www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=33&p2_articleid=731

...After the brief title cut, "The Corner" kicks into high gear but also has slower jazzy sections which really makes for an intriguing listen. When the band kicks it up a notch one can definitely hear a Spock's Beard influence. "To Have And To Hold" is a peaceful mellow track with a nice melody, provided mainly by lilting acoustic guitar and some well placed atmospheric keys in the background. "Dreaming Not Sleeping" is another strong song featuring acoustic and electric guitar, fluid bass runs and some interesting synth play. "Mandelbrot World" is the longest song and is a definite highlight. The vocals have an Ian Anderson vibe, especially at the beginning before taking on a more bluesy quality. At over nine minutes, there is enough room for the instruments to explore new territory than on some of the other songs, and all of the band members take full advantage of the opportunity. "God And War" starts with acappella vocals that set the tone for a mellow beginning, but fear not, after five minutes Foster pulls off a ripping solo that carries through the rest of the song and acappella vocals end the song the way it started. I have only touched on a few highlights and I will leave the rest up to you. Jack Foster seems to have found a good home at ProgRock Records and should be a good fit for the label. I thoroughly enjoyed this album and recommend it for anyone who enjoys melodic progressive rock, art rock or just well crafted rock music in general. A well deserving four stars.
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=7053

French review
www.metalchroniques.fr/guppy/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=2353

Italian review
www.hardsounds.it/PUBLIC/recensione.php?id=4731

...Melodic, slick and mostly positive progressive rock is what's on offer this time around from Jack Foster III, where a great variety of stylistic expressions have been assembled together in a mix and production that should make it suitable and appealing to those on the lookout for radio-friendly rock with a few more bells and whistles that what you'll encounter on your local FM radio. Mainstream-oriented art rock of the symphonic variety with elements of jazz and blues rock added to the mix is probably a good description of the contents, and as long as you don't expect to encounter anything truly challenging in such a package this one might be worthwhile checking out.
www.progressor.net/review/jack_foster_2009.html

...The title track is a short intro piece. The Corner starts off hard rocking with some intense drumming before the music changes dramatically into an acoustic track. Jack has a special voice, some may not like. The CD features a lot of complicated stuff that can switch dramatically from one thing to the next. To have and to Hold has some beautiful acoustic guitar and some spacey keyboards. Outbreak Monkey is a real workout of a track at the beginning with some really cool guitar work before it goes into 80’s Marillion territory. Dreaming not Sleeping is a beautiful track. Mandelbrot World is a long track at 9 minutes and begins with piano and synths and then some programmed drums/percussion that leads into a spacey part before the guitar picking begins and wild electric guitar solo in the middle. Cool song. God and War is 8 minutes and features a choir of Jack’s own voice at different pitches before the music kicks in. There is some very deep bass on this track and a very dramatic musical section towards the end. The New American has a darker guitar line and potent lyrics. It is a mixture of melodic elements and some heavier stuff than the rest of the record. Inspiration is a short track and one of my least favourite. The CD ends with Sometimes when you Win, a track with powerful lyrics.
www.lowcut.dk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=545:jack-foster-iii-jazzraptors-secret&catid=29:album-reviews&Itemid=54

Radio interview
www.wxvufm.com/archives/Jack%20Foster%20Interview.mp3

...With To Hsve And To Hold he offers a beautiful balladesque tune with acoustic guitars. Almost a singer / songwriter song, but with the warm timbre of Jack Foster III's voice and the emotions his vocals transport its a pleasure to listen. And yes, during the instrumental part it goes prog! The following Outbreak Money brings back the prog with a fast intro, but then slows down again - focusing on Foster's voice. The trio takes you on a musical roller coaster ride with slow, balladesque parts, instrumental frenzy and up-tempo prog parts. Actually it's the contrast which attracts me, the outbreak of jazzy or progressive parts and then the smooth balladesque passages. Its like a carrot and stick treatment - and even then they can surprise you. The longest track at Jazzraptor's Secret is Mandelbrot World and kicks off with piano and keyboard... First a bit classic, then more spheric sounds which remember me a bit of the late 70's prog rock bands... So the threesome slowly carries you into Mandelbrot World. A dash of honky tonk piano, a dash of country rock and an emotional voice. Trent Gardner and Robert Berry produced the album and partly co-wrote it and some parts remind me of Berry's Alliance... No big deal, coz this is more prog rock and I really like to listen to Alliance, so no complains from me. God And War kicks off with church-like choirs, but then it becomes a smooth prog rock tune with just a dash of aggression here and there. And it fits as this song lyrically is about to stop war and love each other. He touches a religious topic, but without preaching. Only the hallelujah choir towards the end is a bit annoying, but it fits to the lyrics, so its okay - and its only a short part. And after an instrumental prog partt, the church-like choir is back for a brief moment. At The New American it seems he gave some kind of an political statement - as he quotes 'yes, we can' from the Obama campaign -, even if this song isn't about Obama. The last track is Sometimes When You Win and sticks out with it's lounge jazz flair and prog edge, but what really makes this one stick out is the brass section part. Quite cool!..
www.ice-vajal.com/f/CD/foster3jack.htm

...The following year came Raptorgnosis, and then Tame Until Hungry in 2007. The fourth, Jazzraptor’s Secret, continues their musical journey along neo-progressive, symphonic, acoustic, and jazz styling whilst tackling the big issues of war, spirituality, marriage, and politics. These often difficult and controversial subjects are all covered on the album with a genuine sense of respect and honesty. Musically it is an album with plenty of sublime moments of musical magic, sophisticated writing, top quality musicianship, and trademark technical class. Opening with the brief but intriguing intro of the title track, it moves quickly into “The Corner”. It is cleverly written moving through some powerful guitar chords that slowly fall away to reveal an acoustic track with rich, smooth vocals, amid meaningful lyrics. There is an intricacy to the album that maintains a fascination for the listener throughout. Quality really begins to kick in with the gentle love song that is “To Have And To Hold”. The constantly shifting “Outbreak Monkey” clocks in at over six minutes in a highly satisfying fusion of styles. The album weaves its magic through this type of texturing, which is most definitely continued through the nicely paced “Dreaming Not Sleeping”...
blogcritics.org/archives/2009/02/03/1929252.php

...His new album with Trent Gardner and Robert Berry is out now under the moniker Jack Frost III – Jazzraptor’s Secret. Here we got a very interesting record for sure mixing many Progressive Rock, and Fusion elements. I can even notice some Pomp Rock touches here and there into the vein of Asia or IQ just to mention some bands to make you understand. All those gathered under a smooth production, presented under ultra technical structures, with melody and emotion let to be the top of the musical mountain after all. Brilliant acoustic guitar parts are mixed with stormy Prog breakings, Epic / Pomp bridges, Queen-inspired multi vocal choruses and psychedelic keyboard parts. You can also add those adventurous, narrative guitar solos to the puzzle, yes they are a top feature in here. Well this is a Progressive Rock storm my friends! Well at the end of the day (eem the album I mean) you will find yourself asking for more and there it goes again after you have pressed the play vutton for one more time.
www.forgotten-scroll.net/review.php?act=s_rev&id=449&rev=Countraven

...Mandelbrot World is the epic song on the album with a length just over nine minutes and Trent Gardner makes his mark from the start with a signature keyboard solo. The heart of this track sounds like a protest song with acoustic parts and heavier choruses. However the length of the song is caused by the solos at the end of the song and therefore is more a stretched rock song than a true epic. God And War starts with churchlike a cappella singing that states something like "The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth"; sounds familiar. This is the true protest song on this album, very mellow but with a heavy climax just before the churchlike singing ends the song. The New American must have been written by Trent as it has Magellan written all over it - strange vocal lines and odd breaks. The use of acoustic guitar is a good choice, it gives the music a warmer feeling than a distorted guitar. Inspiration is another turn to the easy-listening rock and again a nice tune but I think the real progheads will not have very warm feelings for this song. Sometimes When You Win continues the mood with a nice rock song...
www.dprp.net/reviews/200911.php#jackfoster