Record Reviews
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  | GALLIARD ~ NEW DAWN
ESOTERIC 2099 (Barcode: 5013929719927) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2009
2nd and last album by the brilliant British early Jazz-Rock Fusion band GalliardFind albums by this artist, which somehow slipped into obscurity in spite of the fact that they were as good as any of the famous bands of the genre, which enjoyed enormous success, like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist for example. The band comprised of trumpeter Dave CaswellFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Geoff BrownFind albums by this artist (who composed all the material), bassist Andy AbbottFind albums by this artist, lead guitarist Richard PannelFind albums by this artist, drummer Les PodrazaFind albums by this artist and saxophonist John SmithFind albums by this artist, but was expanded by additional brass players during the recording session: saxophonist Lyle JenkinsFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, trombonist John HughesFind albums by this artist and others. The music is excellent, typical of the era, with unexpected turns and twists and superb brass arrangements, often quite complex and always beautifully executed. This is a true lost gem and Jazz-Rock Fusion / Prog fans not familiar with this heavenly music should embrace it with joy. Most warmly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | GALLIARD ~ STRANGE PLEASURE
ESOTERIC 2098 (Barcode: 5013929719828) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2009
1st album by the brilliant British early Jazz-Rock Fusion band GalliardFind albums by this artist, which somehow slipped into obscurity in spite of the fact that they were as good as any of the famous bands of the genre, which enjoyed enormous success, like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist for example. The band comprised of trumpeter Dave CaswellFind albums by this artist (who composed 2 of the tracks on this album, guitarist / vocalist Geoff BrownFind albums by this artist (who composed the rest of the material), bassist Andy AbbottFind albums by this artist, lead guitarist Richard PannelFind albums by this artist, drummer Les PodrazaFind albums by this artist and saxophonist John SmithFind albums by this artist, but was expanded by additional brass players during the recording session: saxophonist Lyle JenkinsFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, trombonist John HughesFind albums by this artist and others. The music is excellent, typical of the era, with unexpected turns and twists and superb brass arrangements, often quite complex and always beautifully executed. This is a true lost gem and Jazz-Rock Fusion / Prog fans not familiar with this heavenly music should embrace it with joy. Most warmly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEEF HARTLEY BAND ~ LIVE AT AACHEN OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 1970
SIREENA 2124 (Barcode: 4260182981245) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2014
This is a live archival album by the British Blues-Rock / Jazz Rock Fusion ensemble led by drummer / bandleader Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist, which also included guitarist / vocalist and main composer Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary ThainFind albums by this artist and the brass section with trumpeter Dave CaswellFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Lyle JenkinsFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded on July 11, 1970 and presents original material from their early albums and a B.B. KingFind albums by this artist classic.
The music is as brilliant as everything this band ever recorded, a superb mixture of Blues, Rock and Jazz, which sounded like nothing on the scene at the time and remains as one of the best British acts of the late 1960s / early 1970s. Obviously this recording was initially not intended for release on an album, but sounds quite excellent all things considered. Despite the fact that is was captured on tape some fifty-five years ago, it lost nothing of its potency and energy, which easily surpasses everything we are exposed to these days.
Although they released seven excellent studio albums between 1969 and 1973, every piece of live recording by them is absolutely worth having, especially if the sound quality is as reasonable as on this album.
Overall, this is a wonderful piece of history, which British Jazz, Blues and Jazz-Rock enthusiasts can’t miss. The sheer energy and sophistication is simply astounding, at least for me. They don’t music like this anymore!
| | Updated: 13/02/2026Posted: 13/02/2026 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEEF HARTLEY BAND ~ SINNIN` FOR YOU: THE ALBUMS 1969-1973
ESOTERIC 2809 (Barcode: 5013929480995) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1969 - 1973 Released: 2022
This sensational Box Set presents an expanded reissue / remaster of all the seven albums recorded by British drummer / composer / bandleader Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist, which were released originally on the DeramFind albums on this label label. Six of these albums were released under the Keef Hartley BandFind albums by this artist moniker: “HalfbreedFind albums with this title” (1969), “The Battle Of North West SixFind albums with this title” (1969), “The Time Is NearFind albums with this title” (1970), “OverdogFind albums with this title” (1971), “Little Big BandFind albums with this title” (1971) and “Seventy Second BraveFind albums with this title” (1972), and the last album, which was released simply under his name: “Lancashire HustlerFind albums with this title” (1973). This release adds fifteen previously unreleased bonus tracks. The booklet included with the CDs presents comments / recollections by Hartley, compiled by the Box Set editor Mark PowellFind albums by this artist in 2008, as well as photos and relevant details about the lineups and recording dates. Hartley died in 2011, aged sixty-seven.
Hartley was a member of John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist before he established his own band, which over time included a pleiade of the greatest British Blues and Jazz musicians active at the time, including trumpeters Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist and Dave CaswellFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Lyn DobsonFind albums by this artist, Chris MercerFind albums by this artist, Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist, Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist and Johnny AlmondFind albums by this artist and many more. Guitarist / vocalist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist and bassist Gary ThainFind albums by this artist were the core of his band on most of the albums, but the lineups were constantly changing, which was quite normal at the time.
The music is absolutely timeless amalgam of Blues, Blues-Rock, Brass Rock and even early Jazz-Rock Fusion, performed by the crème de la crème of the British scene. During a short span of under five years Hartley captured a brilliant moment in the history of the British music scene, where genres were ignored and everything was possible, allowed and appreciated.
Overall, this Box Set is one of the finest available documents of the British scene during the period of rapidly developing music by the late 1960s and early 1970s, with early Jazz-Rock Fusion emerging, paving the way through a stylistic commotion, which changed music dramatically and rapidly, on a path of no return. Every moment of these seven CDs is an essential delight incarnate!
| | Updated: 25/03/2026Posted: 25/03/2026 | CD 7 Digisleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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