Record Reviews
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  | MIKE COOPER ~ OH REALLY?! / DO I KNOW YOU? / TROUT STEEL / PLACES I KNOW / THE MACHINE GUN CO.
BGO 1371 (Barcode: 5017261213716) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion
Recorded: 1968 - 1972 Released: 2019
This is a reissue of the first five albums by the British guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Mike CooperFind albums by this artist. The first album was originally released on PyeFind albums on this label Records and the other four on the subsidiary DawnFind albums on this label Records. This remastered edition adds also three bonus tracks released originally on singles.
The first two albums present Cooper playing Blues / Folk / Country oriented material, mostly self-penned, on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. On the second album he was joined by the legendary bassist Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and a female vocalist on a few tracks.
However, on the next three albums – the last two of which were recorded during the same session and were intended initially to be released as a double album – he is joined by a dreamy team of the crème de la crème of British Jazz musicians at the time, which includes arranger Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, Geoff HawkinsFind albums by this artist, Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, and Tony CoeFind albums by this artist, pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, bassists Roy BabbingtonFind albums by this artist and Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist, drummer Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist, vocal Diva Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and many others, a truly unprecedented gathering.
Those albums are dominated by Cooper´s idiosyncratic songwriting, guitar playing and singing, and still deeply rooted in the Blues, but the instrumental parts offer some blood-curdling goodies, which no British Jazz fan wants to miss.
Considering how obscure and impossible to find these albums are this monumental reissue is a true godsend, done in the best tradition of BGOFind albums on this label Records´ mission to unearth music that should be given another chance.
Absolutely not to be missed!
| | Updated: 02/09/2020Posted: 01/09/2020 | CD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | JONESY ~ SUDDEN PRAYERS MAKE GOD JUMP…
NIGHT WINGS 01 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2003
4th and last, never previously released, album by the British Prog band JonesyFind albums by this artist, which is quite a surprise. The band’s three previous albums (“No AlternativeFind albums with this title”, “Keeping UpFind albums with this title” and “GrowingFind albums with this title”) recorded between 1971 and 1974 and originally released on the DawnFind albums on this label label, are great examples of the Prog scene at the time, with strong King CrimsonFind albums by this artist influences and interesting contributions from the horn player Alan BownFind albums by this artist (on the 2nd and 3rd album). Following the release of the 3rd album the band simply split up, as happened to most bands at that time, due to tensions between the band members, leaving brothers John Evan-JonesFind albums by this artist (guitars, keyboards and vocals) and Gypsy JonesFind albums by this artist (bass, keyboards, violin and vocals) as the remaining core of the band. Together with three studio musicians: Ken ElliottFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Bernard HagleyFind albums by this artist – electric saxophones and David PottsFind albums by this artist – drums and percussion, they recorded their swan song, which was their most ambitious and elaborate project their ever attempted. Unfortunately due to contractual problems the album was not released on time and to make things worse the original master tapes were stolen from the studio, leaving the band with nothing, which led to the inevitable dead end. The only remaining testimony of the last album was a cassette copy, which is the source of this release. Remastered and cleaned up, it actually sounds pretty decently, and considering the great music it contains, the sonic quality is of secondary importance. This is a concept album, as fashionable at the time, presenting a psychic journey of a man experiencing a mental breakdown and his way to recovery. The music is complex and dense, with layers of sound overlapping and elaborate studio wizardry. The musical themes and the performances are first rate and overall it’s quite a gem, which now, 30 years after its recording, can be finally discovered and enjoyed by Prog fans everywhere. Definitely worth investigating.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TURTLE RECORDS: PIONEERING BRITISH JAZZ 1970-1971
RPM 528 (Barcode: 5013929552807) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1970 - 1971 Released: 2015
This is a phenomenal Box Set including the reissues of all three albums released by the legendary British TurtleFind albums on this label label, owned by producer Peter EdenFind albums by this artist, who besides owning the label was also responsible for producing a long list of revolutionary British Jazz albums, which are all classics today and which document the extraordinary explosion of creativity and talent that transformed British Jazz into a new idiom, emancipated from the American Jazz tradition, proudly stepping into a new dimension, which spread rapidly to the European Continent giving birth to European Jazz. Eden´s productions included albums by such pioneering Jazz musicians like Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist, Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist and others, as well as no less pioneering Rock / Prog musicians. Most of his productions were originally released on the DawnFind albums on this label and DeramFind albums on this label labels.
The three albums included in this Box Set are: "OutbackFind albums with this title" by Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, "FlightFind albums with this title" by Howard RileyFind albums by this artist and "Pause, And Think AgainFind albums with this title" by John Taylor.Find albums by this artist To read the reviews of these albums please click on their titles. The set also includes a fabulous book "The Turtle Records Story" by Colin HarperFind albums by this artist, which is an excellently written and researched account of Eden´s activity at the time, and which includes may interviews with musicians involved and photographs taken at the time, in short a superb piece of British Jazz history. This is a splendid example of what writing about music is all about.
I can hardly imagine a more important document of the pivotal period of the British Jazz than this Box Set. The music is still shockingly expressive, losing nothing of its power and farsightedness over time, the production is exemplary and the listening experience exhilarating. Anybody interested in Jazz who does not own the original LPs should of course get this Box Set ASAP, since not knowing this music is simply criminal. Unless of course someone prefers to listen to the insanely boring American mainstream…
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 20/05/2016 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | BAYON ~ FIRST RECORDINGS 1971-1973
WYDAWNICTWO 21 003 ~ GERMANY ~ Progressive Rock
Bayon were one of the most interesting Prog and Jazz / Rock groups from DDR (East Germany). As the name suggests, they were influenced by Far East folklore and incorporated such themes in their music. This album collects all their recordings from the period preceeding the release of their debut album in 1973. The quality of the material varries, but the majority (including the 12+ minutes suite) is excellent and serves as a fascinating example of early Eastern European Prog.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MCPHEE, TONY ~ LIVE IN POLAND AT BLUES EXPRESS
WYDAWNICTWO 21 008 ~ UK ~ Blues
The legendary UK guitarists, singer, composer and leader of Groundhogs needs no introduction. Since the 1960`s McPhee and his group broke the ground for Blues / Rock and recorded a series of exceptional albums. This album finds a much older and mature McPhee going back to the roots and playing and singing some fine acoustic blues. The material includes mostly well known blues standards and a few compositions by McPhee. On a few tracks he is joinded by local musicians. For acoustic Blues lovers this is a true treat.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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