Record Reviews
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  | 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 |
  | PHIL MILLER / IN CAHOOTS ~ LIVE IN JAPAN
CRESCENT 02 (Barcode: 5020522080224) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1991 Released: 1993
Guitarist / composer Phil MillerFind albums by this artist and his In CahootsFind albums by this artist ensemble have been a consistently excellent source of great music for many years. This particular lineup is a sextet and includes: Miller – guitar, Elton DeanFind albums by this artist – sax, Jim DvorakFind albums by this artist – trumpet, Peter LemerFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Fred BakerFind albums by this artist – bass and Pip PyleFind albums by this artist – drums. Recorded live during a Japanese tour, this album presents the group performing the wonderful Miller’s compositions in an extended form, with many outstanding solos by all the players. Much of the set is drawn from Phil´s solo album Digging InFind albums with this title and it is interesting to compare the carefully controlled studio versions with these loose, fiery, live ones. Miller always talks about himself first as a composer and only then as a guitarist, and rightly so since although he is an excellent player, he has very few equals as a song-weaver. Excellent stuff!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | PHIL MILLER / IN CAHOOTS ~ OUT OF THE BLUE
CRESCENT 05 (Barcode: 604388476626) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000
Guitarist / composer Phil MillerFind albums by this artist and his In CahootsFind albums by this artist ensemble have been a consistently excellent source of great music for many years. This album is very special in their discography, as Phil wrote the music for this album during the period when his brother, pianist Steve MillerFind albums by this artist became ill with the cancer which eventually killed him in December of 1998. Phil had originally hoped that Steve would play on the recording but, as his illness progressed, that ceased to be a possibility. In a way this album is a tribute to Steve and is dedicated to his memory. This is a real return to roots for Phil, harking back to earlier days when he, Steve and Pip played together in DeliveryFind albums by this artist, a band which leaned heavily on the blues for its starting point and it coincides with CuneiformFind albums on this label Records re-release of the Delivery album Fools MeetingFind albums with this title. It represents something of a departure for Phil, being his first venture into the blues for 30 years. The writing is simpler and there is more of a groove in the rhythm section. The usual In Cahoots sextet line up of Phil Miller - guitar and guitar synthesizer, Fred BakerFind albums by this artist - fretless bass guitar, Elton DeanFind albums by this artist - alto sax and saxello, Peter LemerFind albums by this artist - keyboards, Jim DvorakFind albums by this artist - trumpet and Pip PyleFind albums by this artist - drums is augmented by Doug BoyleFind albums by this artist on guitar. Excellent music from start to finish, which of course is not surprising for a band that keeps delivering one great album after another.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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