Record Reviews

NEIL ARDLEY ~ KALEIDOSCOPE OF RAINBOWS LIVE `75 JAZZ IN BRITAIN 21 (Barcode: 5060774190142) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Neil ArdleyFind albums by this artist, which presents a live recording of his orchestral piece entitled “Kaleidoscope Of RainbowsFind albums with this title”, originally commissioned by the London Borough of Camden and supported by the Arts Council of Great Britain (those were the days!), premiered at the legendary Roundhouse in October of 1974 by a Jazz Big Band / Orchestra. The version performed here, one year later, is somewhat revised and expanded, recorded, with Ardley conducting of course, by a smaller and much tighter group of Top British Jazz musicians at the time, all of which took part in the studio recording of the seminal “Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows” album, which was recorded a few months later in 1976 and released the same year. The lineup includes the members of NucleusFind albums by this artist led by trumpeter Ian CarrFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Bob BertlesFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ken ShawFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger SuttonFind albums by this artist and drummer Roger SellersFind albums by this artist. Additionally, the collective lineup adds saxophonists Brian SmithFind albums by this artist, Tony CoeFind albums by this artist and Barbara ThompsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Dave MacRaeFind albums by this artist, cellist Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist and percussionist Trevor TomkinsFind albums by this artist. The lineup that recorded the studio album also included guests: saxophonist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist and keyboardist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, who are not present here. The 2CD album presents sixteen tracks, timing at 103 minutes, which have been later combined and condensed into nine tracks, timing about half of that time, as released on the studio album. Therefore, this album, which presents the full extent of Ardley’s vision for his work, is extremely important and the fact that it is available here for the first time is truly a momentous occasion and a milestone of British Jazz history. “Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows” is the last part of a triptych of orchestral works by Ardley, which also includes the earlier “The Greek VariationsFind albums with this title” and “A Symphony Of AmaranthsFind albums with this title”. All three pieces are based on a concept of taking a limited musical element and expanding it into a large framework. Ardley would create one more orchestral piece a couple of years later (1978), called “Harmony Of The SpheresFind albums with this title”, before he embraced a career as author and composer of choral music. The music follows the pattern of earlier Ardley’s works, amalgamating Jazz with World Music elements and heavily influenced by the minimal music concepts of repetition and slowly developing / cyclic repetition, all brilliantly put together and masterly executed by all the participants. Although structurally the music is not Jazz per se, the soloing, improvising and phrasing are indeed very Jazzy (not surprisingly), and with the expanded format of the piece, are more prominently featured here that on the more disciplined studio version. Ardley, together with Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist constitute the triumvirate of the British Jazz orchestral composers / bandleaders, who offered a completely revised alternative to American Big Band Jazz, taking it into entirely new musical spheres, artistic heights and European aesthetic values, which still reverberate in contemporary music. As usual praise goes to the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label for unearthing this music and releasing it on CD. Please keep up the good work, as nobody else has the stamina, energy and passion to do it and these reissues are way too good to remain hidden in the vaults.

Updated: 03/07/2021Posted: 03/07/2021

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NEIL ARDLEY / IAN CARR / MICHAEL GIBBS / STAN TRACEY ~ WILL POWER VOCALION 8412 (Barcode: 765387841225) ~ UK ~ Jazz This stunningly beautiful album managed to stay on the top of my personal list for over 30 years now and I love it as much as I did the first time I heard it. It simply represents all the beauty, sophistication and intellectual quality of the British Jazz of the late 1960s / 1970s, perhaps more accurately and more concisely than any other one album. It documents a concert performed at London’s Southwark Cathedral, one of the many events dedicated to Shakespeare’s tercentenary celebrations, and presents four major works written by four great British Jazz composers: Neil ArdleyFind albums by this artist, Ian CarrFind albums by this artist, Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist and Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist, dedicated to Shakespeare’s genius. The list of performers certainly resembles the “Who’s Who” of British Jazz at the time and includes: Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and Pepi LemerFind albums by this artist – vocals, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist – trumpet, Tony CoeFind albums by this artist – reeds, Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist and Colin WalkerFind albums by this artist – cello, Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist, John TaylorFind albums by this artist and Stan Tracey – keyboards, Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist – bass, Tony LevinFind albums by this artist – drums and Trevor TomkinsFind albums by this artist – percussion. All the lengthy suites, although quite different from each other, are majestic and respectful to the great poet’s legacy, often touching on Elizabethan era motifs, even if ever so slightly. The ambience of the Cathedral adds to the overall effect and the magic of that performance if caught forever by this extraordinary recording. Everything that is so great about Jazz – composition, arrangement and performance – is unified here to produce that magical moment, which can never be repeated. I can’t imagine anybody not liking this, and although it’s by far no easy listening, the immediate magnanimity of this music is so apparent that repeated listening could only deepen the experience. Beyond essential!

CD 2 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

CHITINOUS ENSEMBLE ~ CHITINOUS VOCALION 8405 (Barcode: 765387840525) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2005 This strange and beautiful album would have never been released at the time if not for the openness of the DeramFind albums on this label label to issue even the most eccentric material, as long as it had musical merit. The Chitinous EnsembleFind albums by this artist was as fictitious as they come, so named by cellist / composer / arranger Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist, who assembled the musicians to perform an ambitious piece of orchestral music he composed. Buckmaster was a gifted and accomplished musician, who was in great demand in UK as arranger and composer, working with top Rock stars like Elton JohnFind albums by this artist, the Bee GeesFind albums by this artist (see OdessaFind albums with this title) and even the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist (see Sticky FingersFind albums with this title). He also composed numerous film scores, including the amazing soundtrack for Roman PolanskiFind albums by this artist’s MacbethFind albums with this title, where he cooperated with the Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist. The ensemble Buckmaster assembled to perform this complex extended composition includes a large string section and a large deployment of his Jazz buddies, all top British Jazz players like Ian CarrFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist on bass, John MarshallFind albums by this artist on drums and many more. The music is a mixture of classical influences with Jazz-Rock rhythmic patterns and modern sound vistas, all combined together into a wonderful sonic experience. It sounds absolutely great today as if time only enhanced the intrinsic beauty included therein. Wholeheartedly recommended for more adventurous listeners.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS FARLOWE ~ FROM HERE TO MAMA ROSA REPERTOIRE 1331 (Barcode: 4009910133125) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of the fourth album by the seminal British vocalist Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist, one of the most distinctive voices of the British Isles´ musical history. His career started in the early 1960s and he was at the epicenter of the British Rhythm And Blues explosion with his group The ThunderbirdsFind albums by this artist. He was considered as one of the top three acts of the era, together with Georgie FameFind albums by this artist and the Blue FlamesFind albums by this artist and Zoot MoneyFind albums by this artist and the Big Roll BandFind albums by this artist. Farlowe recorded no less than three albums in 1966, all excellent examples of the Blues and Rhythm And Blues. In time The Thunderbirds morphed into The HillFind albums by this artist, the group that accompanies Farlowe on this album, which included guitarist Steve HammondFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Peter RobinsonFind albums by this artist, cellist Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist, bassist Bruce WaddellFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin DavyFind albums by this artist. The original album presented nine tracks, all but one composed by Waddell or co-composed by him. This reissue adds three bonus tracks. Musically this album is very different from Farlowe´s earlier Rhythm And Blues recordings and it has a distinctive Progressive Rock flavor, which is hardly surprising considering that soon after the recording of this album Farlowe was about to join the mighty ColosseumFind albums by this artist and later also Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist, two of the most important representatives of the British Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion. The album presents excellent tunes, all beautifully performed, with impressive instrumental soloing, as appropriate for the Prog idiom. Superb Hammond organ parts and of course cello, which was quite unusual in the Rock setting. In retrospect this is one of those rare gems that almost completely slipped under the radar of the Prog fans over the tears, which can be rectified with this reissue of course. As for Farlowe, some listeners seem to be allergic to his unique vocal capabilities and theatrics, but personally he was always one of my favorite vocalists, with very few equals over the years. This is definitely one of the best albums of his solo recording legacy, all of which are definitely worth checking out. It´s great to see this album back in circulation and hopefully it won´t be missed out by his many fans this time. This is a little known gem, which deserves to be heard!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 05/06/2018

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

STOMU YAMASH`TA ~ GO ESOTERIC 2081 (Barcode: 5013929718128) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2008 Japanese percussionist / composer Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist settled in England in 1972, after studying music in his native country and later in the USA. He worked mainly as a composer for theatre music, but his signing as a recording artist for the Island label brought his work to the attention of a wide audience following the release of this seminal album – a super project in every sense. "GoFind albums with this title" is a large scale suite, combining many musical elements, from Classical to Jazz, World Music and Rock. For the recording of this project the composer created a true super group, consisting of some of the best musicians on the scene, including British vocalist Steve WinwoodFind albums by this artist (TrafficFind albums by this artist, Blind FaithFind albums by this artist), American drummer Michael ShrieveFind albums by this artist (SantanaFind albums by this artist) and guitarist Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist (Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist), German keyboardist Klaus SchulzeFind albums by this artist (Tangerine DreamFind albums by this artist) and many others. The orchestral arrangements were written by the wonderful Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist. The album is full of brilliant musicianship and the music majestic and mystical, flows serenely engulfing the listener into a trance-like state. In retrospect the entire work is a proud precursor of New Age music, which would erupt on the scene two decades later, but at the time it was innovative and quite daring in its scope, which cased it to be embraced by the Prog fans. Although the album was very successful at the time, it was unavailable on CD for many years and this new remastered edition is a most welcome dream-come-true to many Prog fans.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend