Record Reviews

BRIAN AUGER / OBLIVION EXPRESS ~ SUPER POP MONTREUX `70 REPERTOIRE 1485 (Barcode: 4009910148525) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1970 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by the legendary British keyboardist / composer Brian AugerFind albums by this artist and his Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist ensemble. A couple of years after Auger performed in Montreux with his TrinityFind albums by this artist and vocalist Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist, he was invited again, this time with his new musical outfit, before it recorded its eponymous debut album. The lineup included guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist, bassist Barry DeanFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist, with Auger handling the vocal duties in addition to playing the keyboards. The album presents nine tracks, four of which are Auger’s original compositions, one is a Classical piece, one is by John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, two are Jazz standards and one is a Pop song, all arranged by Auger. Recorded some fifty-five years ago, the music offers splendid sound quality. The debut album, recorded just a month after this Montreux appearance, featured the same lineup, except for Bailey, who was replaced by Robbie McIntoshFind albums by this artist. The four Auger originals and the McLaughlin tune were included on the debut album, with one additional tune by Roger BallFind albums by this artist (from Average White BandFind albums by this artist), which was not performed at Montreux. The music is a wonderful cross-genre amalgam of Rhythm And Blues, Rock and Jazz, beautifully put together by Auger’s arrangements and spiritual leadership. The British Jazz-Rock Fusion was already in advanced stages of development, which started somewhere in mid 1960s by a wide spectrum of both Jazz and Rock musicians, looking for a new way of expression, as well as understanding, that the genre division was basically senseless, and music was supposed to express Artistic directions, regardless of the style or the instrument a musician uses. Both McLaughlin and Auger belonged to the huge community of British Jazz-Rock experimentalists, and although quite different stylistically, easily fond a common language. Auger’s ability to combine his pretty complex keyboards improvisations with superb melodic compositions, made him not only one of the great pioneers of the British Jazz-Rock scene, but a great catalyst, who inspired generations of younger musicians to explore music without preconceptions and genre limitations. Overall, this is a wonderful document of a revolutionary era in music, which was exploding with innovation and discovery. Brian has been among my personal favorite musicians since the moment I heard him play in the 1960s, and this love is unconditional, so hearing previously unheard material is obviously a rare moment of total bliss!

Updated: 12/09/2025Posted: 12/09/2025

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