Extra Ball, 6 albums, 1976 to 1983

The band made 6 albums in the late 70s to early 80s which feature sometimes lengthy and tendentious fusion with quite a bit more jazz in the mix, sometimes demonstrating original thinking or fresh hooks but less energetic overall than the very similar (Slovak) band Fermata.  There is less of the fresh clear thinking and creativity of the best Czech like Jazz Q.

Sadly the first album is by far the best of the lot.  A few tracks are tight, but otherwise they seem to meander quite a bit.  A relatively ingenious track called "The Seven:"





On the 1979 album, the piece dedicated to Elvin Jones provides masterful pathos:





Unlike the remainder of the album which was written by guitarist J. Smietana, this one was by bassist Zbigniew Wegehaupt.

Despite the extreme beauty of the painting on the cover of Mosquito (1981), the music failed to really bite.  No insect repellent required here.  And by the time of the 1983 Torres album with its Village-People-like cover things have really drastically declined, if such is even possible.