Record Reviews

HARRY BECKETT ~ JOY UNLIMITED CADILLAC 017 (Barcode: 5020675572485) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1974 Released: 2020 This is a reissue / remaster of a classic album by British Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, recorded with a sextet, with also included keyboardist Brian MillerFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, bassist Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist, drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist and percussionist Martin DavidFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Beckett. This long overdue reissue was prompted by the publication of Beckett’s biography “The Many Faces of Harry Beckett” by John ThurlowFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the new liner notes, which are featured on the album’s artwork, in addition to the original liner notes by John FordhamFind albums by this artist. The album, which was Beckett’s fourth release as a leader, was released by the small independent CadillacFind albums on this label Records label established by John JackFind albums by this artist in 1973, and which subsequently released several iconic British Jazz recordings, some of which are still waiting for a reissue. The music on this album is quite different from Beckett’s earlier recordings, which were more within the modern mainstream Jazz idiom. This album is however pure Jazz-Rock Fusion with some World Music influences, mostly rhythmically. In addition to Beckett’s brilliant trumpet parts, the rest of the instrumental work is highly charged by the electric guitar and keyboards, which take the music towards the British Fusion, which flourished at the time. Russell, Miller and Runswick play some highly exciting soli throughout the album, which could be easily associated with the Fusion bands active at the time, like IsotopeFind albums by this artist, Rock WorkshopFind albums by this artist, IfFind albums by this artist and many others. With the Latin / Caribbean rhythms added, this album is certainly quite unique and in retrospect deserves a much wider recognition than it managed to achieve. Overall, this is a classic British Jazz gem, worthy a proper place in any serious record collection. It should also be quite educational for the new generation of musicians, showing how cross-pollination and genre-crossing can lead to magnificent results, not to mention the respect due to all these wonderful musicians, who proved there are no limits to creativity. This is an absolute must of course and thanks to John’s initiative to make it available again, which he is practicing on the daily basis by running the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label reissues label.

Updated: 18/02/2023Posted: 18/02/2023

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HENRY LOWTHER ~ CHILD SONG VOCALION 8403 (Barcode: 765387840327) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2005 Trumpeter / violinist / composer Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist was one of the busiest and most sought after musicians on the British scene in the late 1960s and 1970s. His virtuosity and versatility resulted in him being a member in many groups (often simultaneously) and in different musical environments like Rock (Manfred MannFind albums by this artist), Jazz-Rock (Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist), Blues (John MayallFind albums by this artist) and Jazz (Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist, Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist) as well as participating in hundreds of recordings as a session musician. This album is his debut recording as a leader of his own quintet, which includes some of the best young and up-coming British Jazz musicians at the time: Tony RobertsFind albums by this artist – sax, Mike McNaughtFind albums by this artist – electric piano, Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist – bass and Mike TravisFind albums by this artist – drums. Two additional musicians: Jimmy JewellFind albums by this artist – sax and Neil SlavenFind albums by this artist – percussion also take part in the recording. The music, all composed by Lowther, is a splendid example of the European modern Jazz, which is both melodic and adventurous at the same time. The performances are all spotless and the music flows beautifully, leaving the listener wishing for more when the album is over. Overall the album stands the test of time with flying colors and I can wholeheartedly recommend it every Jazz buff, but of course especially to people partial to the British Jazz scene. Great stuff!

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RUNSWICK / HYMAS ~ BIG BANDS 1974-78 ASC 175 (Barcode: 0712396065340) ~ UK ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2019 This is a phenomenal and completely obscure archival album by British Jazz musicians: bassist / composer Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / composer Tony HymasFind albums by this artist. The album presents two recordings (details below), both in a Big Band format, which include the crème de la crème of the British Jazz scene active in the 1970s, including vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist and Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Don RendellFind albums by this artist and Tony CoeFind albums by this artist, trombonist Chris PyneFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, drummers Spike WellsFind albums by this artist and Tony CarrFind albums by this artist and many others. The sound quality of this material is truly sensational. The first project is the Tony Hymans – Daryl Runswick Big Band, captured live in 1974, performing four original compositions, one by Hymans and three by Runswick. The music is typical of the era, and similar to other Big Band projects from that time, like those by Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist or Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist. The second project is an unreleased studio album “Señor Funk”, conceived by Denis PrestonFind albums by this artist and recorded at the legendary Lansdowne Studios in 1978. It presents six tracks, three composed by Runswick, one each by Tony Coe and John TaylorFind albums by this artist and one standard, all arranged by Runswick. Hymans was not a part of this project. As the album’s title suggests, it was supposed to be somewhat Latin Music oriented, which it indeed is, but it also remains very much British Jazz at its core. The level of composition and performance is everything one might expect from these sublime musicians, and the album is a great exposure to the previously unreleased music from this Golden era of British Jazz. Overall, this is a wonderful discovery and joy to be able to hear this great music, and for the British Jazz fans a great opportunity to hear again many of the heroes of that period. A must in every serious British Jazz collection!

Updated: 18/04/2025Posted: 18/04/2025

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DARYL RUNSWICK ~ THE JAZZ YEARS ASC 167/168 (Barcode: 607128998709) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 - 1978 Released: 2017 This is an archival 2CD album by British bassist / composer Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist, which collects recordings by his quartets captured between 1967 and 1978. The collective lineup is impressive, to say the least, and includes saxophonists Don RendellFind albums by this artist, Jim PhilipFind albums by this artist, Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist and Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist, pianists Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist, Mike McNaughtFind albums by this artist, Tony HymasFind albums by this artist and Mick PyneFind albums by this artist and drummers Mike TravisFind albums by this artist, Spike WellsFind albums by this artist and Harold FisherFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen tracks, eleven of which are original compositions by Runswick, one each are by Sulzmann and Hymans and three are standards. The music is superb all the way, a great example of modern British Jazz, which flourished in in 1970s, based on brilliant compositions by Runswick, who also plays excellent bass parts. Although these tracks were never meant to be released as commercial recordings, they offer very good sound quality and a wonderful musical experience. Overall, it is great to see (and hear) this material, which truly deserves to be remembered and listened to, and Runswick deserves to be discovered as an excellent composer and a great musician, whose “Jazz Years” are mostly unknown to the British Jazz enthusiasts. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 19/06/2025Posted: 19/06/2025

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RAY RUSSELL ~ SECRET ASYLUM REEL RECORDINGS 005 (Barcode: 641444015726) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2007 Guitarist / composer Ray RussellFind albums by this artist was a dominant figure on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, making numerous seminal recordings as sideman and leader in a wide variety of styles ranging from Jazz-Rock Fusion, modern Jazz and even Avant-Garde Free Jazz. This reissue of his classic album shows him at the extreme edge of his work in the field of Free Jazz and is a wonderful example of the genre, similar to the work done earlier by John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist with John SurmanFind albums by this artist on Where Fortune SmilesFind albums with this title. Accompanied by a splendid group of musicians that includes Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Gary WindoFind albums by this artist on sax, Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist on bass and Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist on drums, Russell presents a series of his compositions, which vary from contemplative pieces to group improvisation mayhem, all performed splendidly. Beckett is more prominent on the quieter pieces and Windo leads the massive “wall of sound” sections, with his incredible virtuosity. The album achieved little attention at the time of its release, but now 35 years after it was recorded, it can be really appreciated in full and in the proper historic perspective. Definitely worth checking out!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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RAY RUSSELL SEXTET ~ FORGET TO REMEMBER JAZZ IN BRITAIN 22 (Barcode: 5060774190166) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by British Jazz guitarist / composer Ray RussellFind albums by this artist, which presents a BBC session recorded in a sextet setting with trumpeter Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tony RobertsFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, bassist Daryl RunswickFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan RushtonFind albums by this artist. The album presets seven tracks, five original compositions by Russell, two appearing twice in alternate versions. Before this session Russell already recorded and released two seminal albums for CBSFind albums on this label (“Turn CircleFind albums with this title” and “Dragon HillFind albums with this title”) and some of the material present here would appear later on his third studio album (also on CBS) “Rites And RitualsFind albums with this title”. The music is already deeply within the modern British Jazz mold, which developed around that time, plunging into open formats and Free Improvisation, but still based on clear melodic phrases serving as the starting points of each tune. Russell offered a completely idiosyncratic style, merging Rock attack with Jazz chord delivery, which made him a new voice on the scene. He eschewed the Fusion direction, staying firmly within the Jazz idiom at the time, sounding like an angry John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist on speed, but completely himself. His soloing on this album, which is much more opened than on the studio recordings, is absolutely hair-raising and deserves to be heard, since after fifty years of Jazz guitar there are very few examples of a more imaginative approach. The other players support the leader amicably, with Beckett taking the rest of the soloing under his wings and the other two brass players heard mostly on the intros and outros but also soloing from time to time. The rhythm section is brilliant all the way and manages to swing gracefully despite the rather overall Free atmosphere. With the usual BBC sound quality, this is a superb document of the era, obviously worth being heard by the fans of the period. Guitar freaks are in for quite a surprise obviously, so here it is, five decades old and still alive and kicking. Good job with keeping this music alive.

Updated: 30/05/2021Posted: 30/05/2021

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