Record Reviews
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  | BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH ~ BREMEN TO BRIDGWATER
CUNEIFORM 182/183 (Barcode: 045775018225) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 - 1975 Released: 2004
This albums collects three concerts recorded by the legendary British Jazz ensemble Brotherhood Of BreathFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Chris McGregorFind albums by this artist. The first recording captures the ensemble in its early days (1971) whereas the other two come from four years later (1975), towards the end of the life cycle of the first edition of the band, which came to its end with the death of trumpeter Mongezi FezaFind albums by this artist just a month after the last of these concerts was recorded. The collective lineup (which changed slightly over time) includes: Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, Marc CharigFind albums by this artist and Mongezi Feza – trumpet, Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Radu MalfattiFind albums by this artist – trombone, Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, Evan ParkerFind albums by this artist, Dudu PukwanaFind albums by this artist, Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, Bruce GrantFind albums by this artist and Gary WindoFind albums by this artist – saxophone, Chris McGregor – piano, Harry MillerFind albums by this artist – bass and Louis MoholoFind albums by this artist and Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist– drums. It is interesting to compare the development of the ensemble over this relatively short time period and see how well integrated musically and spiritually the ensemble really was. Both the individual and collective improvisations are all breathtaking and the entire concert is an orgy of sound and musical creativity. A must to all British Jazz enthusiasts and definitely worth investigating for all open-minded music lovers.
| | | CD 2 Recommend To A Friend |
  | COMMAND ALL STARS ~ CURIOSITIES 1972
REEL RECORDINGS 010 (Barcode: 676868178023) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008
This album is a great example of what the Canadian Reel RecordingsFind albums on this label label is all about: unearthing recorded documents of the British Jazz / Avant-Garde scene dating back to the 1960s, which have been so far completely lost and (sadly) often forgotten. Considering the fact that the Golden Decade (1965-1975) was Britain´s most illustrious contribution to music, any recorded document from that period has an immense historical value and therefore the work done by this label is truly a quest worth following. The music contained herein was recorded with the intention to be released as a double album, presenting the Art of spontaneous improvisation, performed by a collective of young (at the time) but experienced British players, who spearheaded the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene and certainly deserved the "stardom" status in spite of the oxymoron such epithet might imply: pianist Keith TippettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Mark CharigFind albums by this artist, bassists Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and Johnny DyaniFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist. These musicians often played with each other in various ensembles, of which they were members, but never collectively as one group, hence the one-time opportunity to hear them improvise collectively is so attractive. Unfortunately, as it often happened at the time, even with Jazz labels as the one for which these recordings were made, the label found this music to be "too much to swallow" and the project was discarded, including whipping out the original master tapes (a crime, without a doubt). Fortunately two copies of the original four reels were recently discovered by Evans and here we are being able to finally listen to this music. The music itself needs little elucidation to people familiar with the recorded output of the protagonists – it is what they always did best, play whatever their hearts dictated at the moment, carefully listening to each other and together creating a whole, which is much bigger than its parts. The album also includes two tracks recorded later the same year (for the BBC? as the recording premises might suggest) by a sextet including Dean, Evans and Charig with guitarist Jeff GreenFind albums by this artist, bassist Neville WhiteheadFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis MoholoFind albums by this artist. This is a true "blast from the past" and an absolute must for any British Jazz / Avant-Garde fan, wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOY ~ JOY
CADILLAC 022 (Barcode: 5020675000377) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2023
This is a reissue of the only album by the British Jazz quintet JoyFind albums by this artist, which comprised of trumpeter Jim DvorakFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Chris FrancisFind albums by this artist, pianist Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist, bassist Ernest MothleFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist. The original album, with nine tracks, was remastered and expanded by four bonus tracks, one of which was not included on the original album and three are alternate takes. Two of the original tracks were extended to their full-length versions, since they were edited to fit on the original LP.
I have heard Joy performing many times at London’s pubs before the album was released and a friendship between Chris and his lovely wife Penny and myself (and later my wife) soon developed, which led to quite frequent meetings whenever I / we visited London thereafter, staying at their house, which was right on the Putney Bridge. Against all odds, we are still in touch and Chris and Penny are the only people in the entire world that have sent us a Christmas / New Year’s Greeting cards every single year in the last almost 50 years.
Joy was an incredible band in every respect. They had among their ranks brilliant musicians and composers, with plenty of new original material to be played at all times. They were multi-cultural and cross-genre before these idioms were even coined, with musical influences including African Music, American Bebop and British modernism and most importantly they always played as if there was no tomorrow.
Although John JackFind albums by this artist of CadillacFind albums on this label Records recognized their talents and released the album, they never achieved the recognition they truly deserved and by the end of the 1970s Joy disbanded. I always wondered why the album was not reissued earlier on, but better late than never, with my personal gratitude to Mike GavinFind albums by this artist, who now takes care of the Cadillac catalogue, it is finally available again.
Overall, this is a true “lost” gem of the British Jazz, recorded at the peak of its most productive period by the mid-1970s. The album is exploding with true musical joy and inventiveness, energy and talent. It lost absolutely nothing of its relevance over time, and captures some of the magical spirit of British Jazz at its core. Obviously, this is an essential item in every serious British Jazz album collection, which I am sure all the dedicated fans of the genre will grab with a big smile on their faces.
| | Updated: 05/06/2023Posted: 05/06/2023 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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