Record Reviews

NEIL ARDLEY ~ MIKE TAYLOR REMEMBERED DUSK FIRE 103 (Barcode: 5065001032011) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2007 The short and tragic life of pianist / composer Mike TaylorFind albums by this artist, an eccentric genius fallen victim to mental illness / drug abuse, which proved self-destructive and led to his death at the age of 29, is surely worthy a script adaptation for a Martin ScorseseFind albums by this artist movie. Sometimes referred to as “the Syd BarrettFind albums by this artist of British Jazz”, Taylor had close ties with a relatively small group of musicians, like Graham BondFind albums by this artist and the members of his Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist, which included Jack BruceFind albums by this artist and Ginger BakerFind albums by this artist – soon to be founders of CreamFind albums by this artist. Many people will be surprised to learn that three songs co-written by Ginger and Mike appear on Cream’s Wheels Of FireFind albums with this title album (“Pressed Rat And Warthog”, “Those Were The Days” and “Passing The Time”). Another one of his superb songs – “Jumping Off The Sun” – was recorded by ColosseumFind albums by this artist and appears on several of their albums. Although known intimately by very few people at the time, the legend lives on and periodically the flame of interest is rekindled among the modern British Jazz fans, like in the case of reissue of his only two existing recordings: PendulumFind albums with this title and TrioFind albums with this title. Even fewer people are aware of the spectacular tribute album recorded by Taylor’s musician friends three years after his death. Recorded under the musical direction of another British Jazz legendary figure, composer / arranger / bandleader Neil ArdleyFind albums by this artist, who discovered Taylor’s genius immediately and scored some of his compositions for the New Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist when Taylor was still alive. Unfortunately the concert, which was to feature NJO and Mike’s trio never materialized, since Taylor (already very ill at the time) simply missed the gig. Nevertheless Ardley continued to use Taylor’s music as part of the regular NJO repertoire and suggested to Denis PrestonFind albums by this artist, owner of the legendary Lansdowne Studios in London, where most of the pivotal modern British Jazz was recorded, to produce a tribute album to Mike Taylor’s musical genius. Preston, who recorded the two Taylor albums, needed no persuasion and funded the complex and costly project with no hesitation, considering it a most appropriate gesture. Ardley assembled a group of 20 musicians to record this project, sharing the scoring of the music for a large ensemble with others, who were close to Taylor and new him well, like Howard RileyFind albums by this artist, Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist and Dave GellyFind albums by this artist. One of the tracks is based on a previously unreleased Taylor quartet recording, with the ensemble overdubbed on top of the original recording, which makes Taylor’s participation in this project almost “in person” as well as “in spirit”. The list of the participating musicians reads like the who’s who of modern British Jazz and includes among others: Ian CarrFind albums by this artist and Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Chris PyneFind albums by this artist and David HorlerFind albums by this artist on trombone, Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist and Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist on saxophone, Peter LemerFind albums by this artist and Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist on piano, Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist and Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist on bass, Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist on drums and of course the divine Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist on vocals. I can’t think of a more appropriate tribute than this one, full of love, dedication and music genius by all the people involved. Considering the fact that this album combines the genius of Taylor’s Jazz composition with the genius of Ardley’s Jazz scoring / arranging, we get (in mathematical terms) a genius squared result – a rare event indeed. Recommending this album would be somewhat similar to recommending someone to read some Joyce or see a van Gogh – completely superfluous. I’m sure you get the drift by now!

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

ELAINE DELMAR ~ SNEAKIN` UP ON YOU VOCALION 8437 (Barcode: 765387843724) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2007 British singer / actor Elaine DelmarFind albums by this artist is a prominent figure on the local entertainment scene, with several decades of activity on stage, cinema and recording studio. Delmar started her career as a Jazz singer in the mid 1960s, recording several albums for Denis PrestonFind albums by this artist, and then signed with the CBSFind albums on this label label, on which she released just the one album, now reissued on VocalionFind albums on this label. As opposed to her early strictly Jazz recordings, on this album Delmar presents repertoire drawn from the cinema and stage as well as contemporary songbook. Of course her Jazz inclinations are still very much audible, as are her natural charm and talent. The music is superbly arranged and the orchestral accompaniment perfectly executed, with that marvelous 1960s sound. In many respects this album is a perfect example of vocal albums made in Britain in the late 1960s / early 1970s, where arrangers and orchestra conductors were an integral part of the final result and the overall result full of brilliant details, both vocal and instrumental. They don´t make music like that any more, that´s for sure. This is a most pleasant trip don the memory lane, which lost nothing of its charm over time.

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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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