Record Reviews

GEORGIE FAME ~ THE COMPLETE LIVE BROADCASTS I RHYTHM AND BLUES 065 (Barcode: 5060331752226) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1964 - 1967 Released: 2021 This is an archival 2CD album presenting the BBC broadcasts by the British vocalist / organist / songwriter Georgie FameFind albums by this artist and his group The Blue FlamesFind albums by this artist. The first CD presents thirty-three tracks recorded between December 1964 and December 1965. The second CD presents thirty-one tracks recorded between February 1966 and July 1967, and includes four tracks recorded with the vocalist LuluFind albums by this artist and eight tracks recorded with The Harry South Big BandFind albums by this artist. Fame, my all-time favorite British vocalist, was quite a strange phenomenon on the burgeoning local Rhythm And Blues scene, which give birth to an immense number of groups like The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist and eventually the entire British Rock scene. While the majority of these musicians followed initially the Blues trail, Fame (and a few others) was much more involved with Jazz influences, which are clearly evident on the tracks present here. The Blue Flames included a three-man horn section with trumpeter Eddie ThorntonFind albums by this artist and saxophonists Peter CoeFind albums by this artist and Glen HughesFind albums by this artist, as well as Jazz drummer Bill EydenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Colin GreenFind albums by this artist, bassist Tex MakinFind albums by this artist and percussionist Speedy AcquayeFind albums by this artist. In time saxophonists Lyn DobsonFind albums by this artist and Johnny MarshallFind albums by this artist, trombonist Derek WadsworthFind albums by this artist and drummers Mitch MitchellFind albums by this artist and Hughie FlintFind albums by this artist all played in Fame’s band. The material includes a mixture of Fame’s early hits (“Yeh Yeh” and “In The Meantime”) and less know material, all perfectly recorded and although in mono, sound brilliantly fresh, and considering the fact that this is the first time they can be enjoyed in full, this album is worth its weight in gold. Since I was convinced that I owned everything Fame has ever recorded, this was a huge surprise and the fact that a second volume of stuff is in preparation is even more exciting. Can’t wait! For Fame followers this stuff is absolutely essential and none of them would like to miss this (or the next volume) in their collections. Heaven on earth!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 12/08/2021

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

JOE HARRIOTT ~ CHRONOLOGY LIVE 1968-69 JAZZ IN BRITAIN 09 (Barcode: 5060774190241) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by the British saxophonist / composer Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks by Harriott’s quintet with trumpeter Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, pianist Pat SmytheFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill EydenFind albums by this artist and two tracks recorded with the Harry South Big BandFind albums by this artist, which included many of the top British Jazz players of the time. One of the tracks is a Harriott original and another is a Wheeler original and the rest are standards. Although Harriott passed like a comet over the British Jazz firmament, he was certainly a key figure, a sage and a pioneer, light-years ahead of most of his peers. His own original Free Jazz ideas, some of the earliest on the global Jazz timeline, were so advanced and unique that even the shortsighted American Jazz clique recognized them as revolutionary and Harriott was the first British Jazz musician to receive a five-star review in the US DownBeat magazine. His first two albums, including the iconic “Free FormFind albums with this title” (1960), were also released in the US, followed by two UK releases: “AbstractFind albums with this title” (1962) and “MovementFind albums with this title” (1963), a threesome that defined the British Jazz emancipation. His involvement in the pioneering Jazz-World Fusion with John MayerFind albums by this artist, which resulted in the “Indo-Jazz Fusions” recordings was another glorious achievement. The music present on this album is one of the latest evidence of his recording career, which completely ceased by 1970, and his last years, ridden by illness remain tragically silent until his death in 1973. By the late 1960s Harriott returned to play conventional, Bebop based music, often with some Caribbean influences, which is what we can hear here. He is still a brilliant saxophonist by all means, and his performances, as well as those of his quintet members and the Big Band, are all definitely worth hearing, albeit by far less exciting than his earlier work. Although the recordings are mono, the sound quality is acceptable and allows the listener to enjoy the music in full. Kenny Wheeler does steal the show here and there, as expected. Considering the fact that this music was previously unreleased, this is a worthy edition to Harriott’s recorded legacy. This CD release, made following an earlier LP release of this material, is a step in the right direction, which means that the people behind the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label listen to our voices and are not completely blinded by the vinyl hype. Good work Guys!

Updated: 24/07/2021Posted: 24/07/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend