Yezda Urfa-Boris (1975)

Yezda Urfa was a short-lived American band that left behind one of the finest works of progressive rock to emerge from the United States. Formed in 1973, their evocative style aligned them with the baroque sounds of English progressive rock bands like Genesis, Yes, and Gentle Giant. Their debut was actually a self-financed demo released in 1975, which, despite its undeniable creative quality, went largely unnoticed until years later when it was reissued on CD by several American and Japanese labels. In this demo, the group, composed of Rick Rodenbaugh (vocals), Mark Tippins (guitars), Phil Kimbrough (keyboards and wind instruments), Marc Miller (bass), and Brad Christoff (drums), recorded a true masterpiece of avant-garde American rock, showcasing dizzying rhythms, large doses of instrumental virtuosity, and musical ideas that perfectly rivaled any leading British progressive rock band of the 1970s. Combining Genesis-like melody with the dissonance of jazz rock, folk rock, and music hall, the quintet excels in tracks such as the avant-garde "3, Almost 4,6 Yea", the powerful "Three Tons Of Fresh Thyroid Glands", the tour de force "Boris", and the complex and vibrant "Tuta in the Moya and Tyreczimmage".