Record Reviews

MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE ~ RADIO DAYS VOL. 3 EAST CENTRAL ONE 3 (Barcode: 5060051334481) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1968 - 1970 Released: 2019 This is the third volume of an archive series collecting the BBC radio recordings by the various groups led by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Manfred MannFind albums by this artist. This volume, recorded between 1968 and 1970 includes the recordings by the short lived Manfred Mann Chapter ThreeFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Mann on keyboards and Mike HuggFind albums by this artist on vocals and piano (the only survivors from the Manfred Mann group), German saxophonist Bernie LivingFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve YorkFind albums by this artist (ex-East Of EdenFind albums by this artist) and drummer Craig CollingeFind albums by this artist (ex-ProcessionFind albums by this artist). A five piece brass section: saxophonists Clive StevensFind albums by this artist, Carl GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Dave CoxhillFind albums by this artist, trombonist Gerald DrewettFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Sonny CorbettFind albums by this artist completed the lineup. The album presents forty five tracks, which include radio, live and studio recordings, original announcements and interviews and even radio commercials, altogether a superb historical glance at British Jazz-Rock at its best. By late 1970 Manfred Mann Chapter Three fell apart and Mann continued with the newly founded Manfred Mann`s Earth BandFind albums by this artist, which is featured on the next volume of this series. Before Manfred Mann Chapter Three was officially launched, Mann and Hugg created a soundtrack to the "Venus In Furs" movie and twenty four excerpts from the soundtrack are included here (all previously unreleased). The radio recordings include not only BBC material but also Australian and Swedish radio recordings. Manfred Mann Chapter Three was a realization of a dream Mann kept in his mind since he started the group Manfred Mann in 1963. Finally liberated from the Pop / Rock image he was free to indulge in Jazz, which was always his preferred habitat. The group offered some of the most interesting British Jazz-Rock recordings on the two albums it managed to release before disbanding. Both the albums and the material presented here are a most welcome reminder of an Avant-Garde attempt to combine Free Form Jazz with Rock. Overall this is an absolute must for all Manfred Mann fans and connoisseurs of British Jazz-Rock of the mid to late 1960s period and a stunning historical document of the period, which should not be missed! The music was compiled by Greg RussoFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the informative booklet accompanying this album – great job mate!

Updated: 13/07/2019Posted: 12/07/2019

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MIKE WESTBROOK ~ THE LAST NIGHT AT THE OLD PLACE CADILLAC 016 (Barcode: 5051078961828) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2018 This is a wonderful archival release of a live concert played by pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and his Concert BandFind albums by this artist, recorded at Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist´s Old Place on May 25, 1968 – the very night when the Old Place on Gerrard Street finally closed its doors for good. The band comprised of saxophonists Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, Bernie LivingFind albums by this artist, George KhanFind albums by this artist and John SurmanFind albums by this artist, trombonists Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Paul RutherfordFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Dave HoldsworthFind albums by this artist, Westbrook on piano, bassist Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, most of which are original compositions by Westbrook and all of which were released on the "ReleaseFind albums with this title" album recorded by the same band less than three months later. This album documents the wonderful freedom the band members enjoyed within the band, and especially so during this very special occasion. The recording presents extended soloing by the band members, that was not present on the much more concise studio versions of these compositions, and allows a rare glimpse at the atmosphere prevailing at the Old Place, which was London´s melting pot of all things Jazz related, side by side with the Little Theatre Club run by drummer John StevensFind albums by this artist. As someone who was lucky to witness that period at first hand, I must admit that the fifty years that passed since have not managed to erase the intensity of the magic that was in the air and the feeling that a completely new music was being born right in front of your eyes (and ears). The album is accompanied by informative liner notes by Westbrook and others and is also a tribute to John JackFind albums by this artist, the omnipresent man behind the British Jazz scene and founder of CadillacFind albums on this label Records, who sadly departed in September 2017. The sound quality of the recording is not ideal, but is certainly good enough to faithfully reconstruct the atmosphere of the concert and enable us to enjoy the music, as it was performed. The fact that this music was recorded at all and survived fifty years of storage is another miracle. We are all very lucky that this recording was unearthed and will be now preserved for posterity. Of course this is an absolute must for all British Jazz enthusiasts and Westbrook followers!

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 09/10/2018

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