Record Reviews

RAY RUSSELL ~ SECRET ASYLUM REEL RECORDINGS 005 (Barcode: 641444015726) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2007 Guitarist / composer Ray RussellFind albums by this artist was a dominant figure on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, making numerous seminal recordings as sideman and leader in a wide variety of styles ranging from Jazz-Rock Fusion, modern Jazz and even Avant-Garde Free Jazz. This reissue of his classic album shows him at the extreme edge of his work in the field of Free Jazz and is a wonderful example of the genre, similar to the work done earlier by John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist with John SurmanFind albums by this artist on Where Fortune SmilesFind albums with this title. Accompanied by a splendid group of musicians that includes Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Gary WindoFind albums by this artist on sax, Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist on bass and Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist on drums, Russell presents a series of his compositions, which vary from contemplative pieces to group improvisation mayhem, all performed splendidly. Beckett is more prominent on the quieter pieces and Windo leads the massive “wall of sound” sections, with his incredible virtuosity. The album achieved little attention at the time of its release, but now 35 years after it was recorded, it can be really appreciated in full and in the proper historic perspective. Definitely worth checking out!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RAY RUSSELL ~ TURN CIRCLE VOCALION 8436 (Barcode: 765387843625) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2007 Guitarist / composer Ray RussellFind albums by this artist has been active on the British Jazz and Fusion scene for the last five decades and has always been considered as a first class musician. Most of his recorded output belongs to the Fusion movement and he can be certainly considered as one of the genre’s pioneers. In the early and mid-1960s Russell was a member of the Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist and Georgie FameFind albums by this artist’s backing band Blue FlamesFind albums by this artist, two outfits that were among the first to combine Rhythm And Blues with Jazz. By the end of the 1960s Russell started to lead his own groups and record with them, although in parallel he participated in numerous recordings in his capacity as a studio musician. He was also a founding member of the excellent Rock WorkshopFind albums by this artist ensemble and later of RMSFind albums by this artist. This album presents Russell’s debut album as a leader and is quite different from most of his recorded output, as it is closer to straightforward Jazz then anything else he recorded. Accompanied by three excellent young musicians: Roy FryFind albums by this artist – piano, Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist – bass and Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist – drums, the quartet plays some fabulous music, composed mostly by Russell (two standards are also included). Russell’s guitar tone, completely devoid of any electronic devices so popular at the time, sounds more like classic guitar work by Grant GreenFind albums by this artist or Barney KesselFind albums by this artist, but with a harder edge and more attack. Overall this is a great document of the era and of Russell’s musical legacy, which stands the test of time beautifully. Great fun and recommended listening!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RAY RUSSELL QUARTET ~ THE COMPLETE SPONTANEOUS EVENT JAZZ IN BRITAIN 74 (Barcode: 5060774190814) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2024 This is a live archival album by British Jazz guitarist / composer / bandleader Ray RussellFind albums by this artist. It collects five live BBC radio broadcasts recorded by Russell and his quartet between 1967 and 1969, with pianists Roy FryFind albums by this artist or Peter LemerFind albums by this artist, bassists Dave HollandFind albums by this artist or Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twenty tracks, seventeen of which are original compositions by Russell, one is by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, one by Charles LloydFind albums by this artist and one is a standard. The sound quality of the recordings is brilliant, and hard to believe these recordings were done almost sixty years ago. A few of these tracks were released on an LP in 2000, the early days of the fabulous Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label, and now the complete material is available, for which all British Jazz fans are eternally grateful. Russell is undoubtedly one of the great silent heroes of the British Jazz scene, rarely in the limelight but continuously active behind the scenes, an author of countless compositions and extensive work as composer of soundtracks for films and TV, a sought after session player with myriad of albums he plays on, but sadly with rather limited recorded legacy as a leader. Most of his albums as a leader originate from the late 1960s and early 1970s, including those by the brilliant Brass Rock ensemble Rock WorkshopFind albums by this artist, which he led. Therefore, this excellent album is even more important to portray his contributions. The music on this album is stylistically quite “well behaved”, as far as the melodic compositions are concerned, strongly rooted in the Jazz tradition, before Russell moved into the more Fusion oriented pathway. His guitar work is absolutely brilliant, displaying his total control of the instrument and stunning technique, continuity and flow. These were pivotal times for the new modern British Jazz scene, where the essence of the new British feel, elegance, sophistication and unique esthetics were forged, which this album portrays splendidly. In retrospect there were very few guitar players in UK at the time, of such class and proficiency. Overall, this is another “bull’s eye” release by Jazz In Britain, which just keeps the juices of the British Jazz history fans flowing, by unearthing such marvelous treasures from the past. Meticulously researched, offering best possible sound quality and most importantly digging deep into the archives, spearing no efforts to bring us the music, this is a true labor of love. Personally this is one of the strongest releases on the label, although everything they release is worth having. Thank you!

Updated: 24/01/2025Posted: 24/01/2025

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

RAY RUSSELL SEXTET ~ FORGET TO REMEMBER JAZZ IN BRITAIN 22 (Barcode: 5060774190166) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by British Jazz guitarist / composer Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, which presents a BBC session recorded in a sextet setting with trumpeter Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tony RobertsFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, bassist Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist. The album presets seven tracks, five original compositions by Russell, two appearing twice in alternate versions. Before this session Russell already recorded and released two seminal albums for CBSFind albums on this label (“Turn CircleFind albums with this title” and “Dragon HillFind albums with this title”) and some of the material present here would appear later on his third studio album (also on CBS) “Rites And RitualsFind albums with this title”. The music is already deeply within the modern British Jazz mold, which developed around that time, plunging into open formats and Free Improvisation, but still based on clear melodic phrases serving as the starting points of each tune. Russell offered a completely idiosyncratic style, merging Rock attack with Jazz chord delivery, which made him a new voice on the scene. He eschewed the Fusion direction, staying firmly within the Jazz idiom at the time, sounding like an angry John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist on speed, but completely himself. His soloing on this album, which is much more opened than on the studio recordings, is absolutely hair-raising and deserves to be heard, since after fifty years of Jazz guitar there are very few examples of a more imaginative approach. The other players support the leader amicably, with Beckett taking the rest of the soloing under his wings and the other two brass players heard mostly on the intros and outros but also soloing from time to time. The rhythm section is brilliant all the way and manages to swing gracefully despite the rather overall Free atmosphere. With the usual BBC sound quality, this is a superb document of the era, obviously worth being heard by the fans of the period. Guitar freaks are in for quite a surprise obviously, so here it is, five decades old and still alive and kicking. Good job with keeping this music alive.

Updated: 30/05/2021Posted: 30/05/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend