Record Reviews

ISOTOPE ~ DEEP END ESOTERIC 2274 (Barcode: 5013929737426) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2011 After playing with Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, Stomu Yamash`taFind albums by this artist and many leading Jazz ensembles, guitarist / composer Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative and technically brilliant players on the British scene, eventually founded his own quartet, called IsotopeFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, Isotope was one of the finest early British Jazz-Rock ensembles, which played ambitious music and included some of the best players on the scene at the time. But as usual, playing fine music made it difficult to keep the group going for a long time, so after recording three excellent albums and sticking together for a few years, Isotope disappeared into oblivion. This was their 3rd and last album and the group was expanded into a quintet and included keyboardists Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist and Zoe KronbergerFind albums by this artist, bassist Dan K. BrownFind albums by this artist and drummer Nigel MorrisFind albums by this artist (who played with Boyle in Yamash`ta’s group) as well as several guest musicians. The music is brilliant from start to finish, slightly resembling Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but of course completely original. This is an absolute must to all early British Jazz-Rock connoisseurs!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks 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

HARRY MILLER / ISIPINGO ~ FULL STEAM AHEAD REEL RECORDINGS 012 (Barcode: 676868177927) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1975 - 1977 Released: 2008 Harry MillerFind albums by this artist brought over from his native South Africa a whole universe of music, which he and several of his South African musical cohorts injected into the British Jazz scene at a time of its greatest glory, not only musically but also socially, when it opened its arms and embraced any worthy influence, be it from India, Middle East, Far East or any other part of the crumbling Empire. Harry was always one of the most revered Masters of the bass and the warm tone and full body of his instrument ornamented countless recordings made by British bandleaders in the 1970s. However, Harry´s heart was always warmest to the amalgam of Free Improvised Jazz based on South African roots. His performances with the Brotherhood Of BreathFind albums by this artist and with his own roots ensemble IsipingoFind albums by this artist are clear evidence of the fact. Sadly Isipingo recorded just one album and therefore this new release, which presents a set of wonderful (mostly studio) recordings, all previously unreleased, is a true delight to every one of the many Harry´s fans around the globe. Made in cooperation with the Miller family label OgunFind albums on this label Records, run by his wife Hazel, this album is a heaven on earth in every respect – the music is delightful, the sound quality excellent and the historical value immeasurable. The lineup of the sextet changes slightly on the tracks present here, including saxophonist Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Mark CharigFind albums by this artist and Mongezi FezaFind albums by this artist, trombonists Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist and Paul NeimanFind albums by this artist, pianists Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist, Keith TippettFind albums by this artist and Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist, Miller on bass and drummer Louis MoholoFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Miller, charges full steam ahead indeed, preserving absolutely all of its vitality and high spirited energy. This album deserves a well respected place in any serious British Jazz album collection and hopefully will be discovered by many new listeners, who missed this wonderful music when it was performed live, being one more testimony to the fact that Harry´s untimely death in 1983 was a tremendous loss for all music lovers.

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PASSPORT ~ HAND MADE WOUNDED BIRD 0483 (Barcode: 664140048324) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1973 Released: 2008 3rd album by the brilliant German Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble PassportFind albums by this artist founded and led by reedman / composer Klaus DoldingerFind albums by this artist, a veteran German Jazz musician and a brilliant composer. The band was one of the best European Fusion ensembles in the 1970s and continues to exist and perform now in its fourth decade under Doldinger´s leadership. On this album the group´s members are Doldinger on saxophones and keyboards, keyboardist Frank RobertsFind albums by this artist, bassist Wolfgang SchmidFind albums by this artist and drummer Curt CressFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely brilliant from start to finish, stylistically similar to other European Fusion ensembles at the time, like the British ensemble IfFind albums by this artist, with funky but uneven rhythms and superb melody lines. The players are all excellent musicians and their performances spotless. Overall this is a classic European Jazz-Rock album, a great document of the genre at the time and a timeless piece of excellent music. Highly recommended!

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