Record Reviews

AMANCIO D`SILVA ~ KONKAN DANCE VOCALION 8420 (Barcode: 765387842024) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1974 Released: 2006 Guitarist / composer Amancio D`SilvaFind albums by this artist was born in Goa, India and arrived in London in 1967, where he was immediately absorbed by the burgeoning local Jazz scene. Similarly to many other musicians, who arrived in the ex-Empire’s Capital from the colonial countries (but mostly from India), D`Silva was already “armed” with a vast musical tradition of his native county. The liberal cultural atmosphere of the London scene and the openness to other cultural influences where a major factor in creating a cultural amalgam between the Western Jazz tradition and the Eastern musical treasures. Several players practiced the new Jazz-World Fusion direction, like the John MayerFind albums by this artist / Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist ensemble with the revolutionary Indo-Jazz FusionsFind albums with this title recordings. Although D`Silva participated in a wide variety of sessions, his unique guitar voice always included a subtle Eastern undertone. However, on his solo recording projects, where his own compositions were mainly featured, this influence was much more apparent. He recorded five brilliant solo albums, of which this was the last. For some strange reason the last album was never released at the time and this is the first time this great music can be heard, which of course is a reason to celebrate, as anything recorded by this brilliant musician is an important heritage and a document of the era. The musicians participating in this recording come from the ranks of legendary British Jazz scene: Don RendellFind albums by this artist – saxophone, Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist – piano and Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist – flute, vibes and electric piano. A sitar and two tabla players add the Indian flavor to the music, which flows beautifully like a river of sound in an enchanted garden. Absolute must!

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JOE HARRIOTT / AMANCIO D`SILVA ~ HUM DONO VOCALION 8505 (Barcode: 765387850524) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2015 This is a long overdue reissue of the only album recorded by the quartet co-led by two of modern British Jazz pioneers: saxophonist Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist and guitarist Amancio D`SilvaFind albums by this artist, which also included bassist Dave GreenFind albums by this artist and drummer Bryan SpringFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Ian CarrFind albums by this artist appear as guest. The album consists of six tracks, five of which are original compositions by D`Silva and one is a standard. The original album was produced by the celebrated producer Denis PrestonFind albums by this artist and was recorded at the legendary Lansdowne Studios. This reissue was remastered by Michael J. DuttonFind albums by this artist and the sound quality and clarity are simply stunning. The liner notes include a reprint of the original liner notes printed on the album´s sleeve and a retrospective essay by Stephano D`SilvaFind albums by this artist, Amancio´s son. Of the many British Jazz albums released by the end of the 1960s, this one is surely one of the most significant and prophetic in so many ways. The exploding British Jazz scene went through a rapid revolutionary movement towards independence from the American Jazz legacy, spearheading the birth of European Jazz, which would become the next evolutionary step for the Jazz Art Form. There are many reasons why Britain proved to be the most fertile ground for this quantum leap, but one of the most significant of these reasons was certainly the fact that Britain (and London in particular) became a natural harbor for immigrants arriving from all corners of the former Empire, making it the first, as we now call it, multiculti environments, amalgamating cultural influences originating from many different locations around the globe. Music, of course, would be one of the most profoundly influenced element of the British culture, to be touched by the influx of those sounds and rhythms and by the end of the 1960s World Music was alive and kicking in Britain, long before the actual term was coined. Joe Harriott, born in Jamaica and Amancio D`Silva, born in India, were just two of many prominent British Jazz musicians, who were integrated into the local scene upon their arrival in Britain and naturally put in their own cultural heritage into the amalgam, which eventually emerged as modern British Jazz. This album is a splendid example of early Jazz-World Fusion, but certainly not the first of its kind. Harriott recorded a series of brilliant and revolutionary albums with another Indian immigrant, John Mayer, in the years preceding this recording. D`Silva recorded his debut album a few months earlier, which displayed similar World-Music influences. There were many other examples telling a similar story of integration and mutual inspiration. Harriott, who is primarily hailed as one of Free Jazz pioneers / inventors displays the gentler side of his musical personality on this album. His solos are of course much more developed and free-spirited than those performed by conventional Jazz players, but he stays well within the melodic and harmonic boundaries outlined by D`Silva´s compositions. The brief standard, which features Harriott in a duet with Spring, is the only reference to Harriott´s free style abilities. D`Silva showcases his highly individual style as a guitarist, which is clearly influenced by a plethora of Indian music characteristics. His compositions, which are all exceptionally beautiful, exemplify a perfect marriage between European lyricism and harmony and Indian spirituality and rhythmic trance. This will be also heard on his later recordings, all of which are classics in their own right. Green, one of British Jazz most prolific and respected bassists, contributes his strong and steady pulsations, which keep the music well anchored and balanced. Spring, a brilliant and original player, performs some true drum magic on this album, which is both intelligent and inspired, especially in view of the rhythmic challenges and odd tempi he needs to deal with. Winstone, the absolute Diva of British Jazz, adds some lovely wordless vocals, which complete the compositions with a veil of mystery and sensuality. She participates on three of the tracks and her contribution is simply invaluable. The great Carr, who plays on just a couple of tracks, adds his superb solos, which are like gleaming jewels; something that happens every time he blows his flugelhorn. All in all this is a most welcome reissue of a monumental milestone in the British Jazz history, which should be a part of every serious record collection owned by people who truly love Jazz. Hopefully VocalionFind albums on this label will release all the other albums recorded by D`Silva at that crucial period, which are all criminally forgotten and unavailable on the market. Oliver & Michael, please!

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