This came out in 2000 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Like plenty of serious (and seriously skilled) musicians and composers, pianist and percussionist Mick Rossi has paid his dues (not to mention his rent) by gigging with rockers like Jewel, Pete Townshend, Ry Cooder, Annie Lennox and the like.
For a change, he takes centre stage on They Have a Word For Everything, leading a crack quartet — trumpet, sax, bass and drums — through a dozen of his own compositions, which are as varied as his resumé. With a preference for moody, layered progressions, Rossi combines bits of driving post-bop, tinges of classical melody and handfuls of minor chords, creating tension with his clanging, percussive keyboard style and the sophisticated interplay of his musicians. Many of these tracks could easily serve as the score to an espionage thriller. If only he could pay the rent with this stuff — Jewel’s loss would definitely be our gain.