Chris Spheeris

Pathways to Surrender, one of the best fretless bass albums of the post-fusion era, helped established Chris Spheeris as a major player. As with fellow Hellenic New Agers Yanni and Vangelis, the multi-instrumentalist's rich heritage serves as a profound influence, one that is felt most keenly in his sinewy melodies and soaring flute runs. Spheeris is no one-trick pony, however. Smoky instrumentals like "In Violet Light" and "Rite of Passage" betray a real hard-rock vibe a la Toto and Genesis.