Record Reviews
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  | BRIAN AUGER ~ LANGUAGE OF THE HEART
GHOSTOWN (Barcode: 885767215412) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012
This is an album by British (resident in California) keyboardist / composer / bandleader Brian AugerFind albums by this artist produced and recorded with the American duo TeaFind albums by this artist (guitarist Franck BalloffetFind albums by this artist and percussionist / keyboardist Phil BunchFind albums by this artist). Several other musicians also participate on the album. The album presents seven original compositions, all co-credited to Auger and Tea.
Auger, as anybody reading my reviews already knows, has been my absolutely favorite Hammond organ player since I first heard him in London exactly fifty years ago and still is today. Nobody, and I mean nobody, managed to come even close to his exquisite feel and the ability to achieve a perfect cross-genre (before cross-genre was invented) mixture of Pop / Jazz / Soul / Groove, which he perfected while playing with his TrinityFind albums by this artist and Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist and later with the Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist.
Listening to this album is like taking the time machine trip five decades back and listening to Auger swirl around the Hammond, with precisely the same feel and sound I remember hearing in London clubs and later on the early albums. The compositions are all also perfectly in the same mold, which simply could not make me (and many of Auger´s faithful followers) more happy.
All the musicians taking part in the recording do a great job and except for the vocals, which I could do without (but which are definitely of secondary importance), the music comes together perfectly. Although I usually say that nobody does music like that anymore, obviously Auger is the notable exception to the rule.
Overall this is just an absolutely perfect Brian Auger album, which finds him doing what he does best – playing his Hammond like nobody else can do. In contrast to other "revival" efforts by many musicians who go back to the 1960s, which are mostly sad and pitiful, Auger manages simply to be himself here, carefree and obviously happy, which clearly projects through the music, which again is as timeless as it always was.
Thank you Brian for the gift of music over the years!
| | Updated: 26/07/2019Posted: 26/07/2019 | CD-R 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | BRIAN AUGER / TRINITY ~ DEFINITELY WHAT! (DELUXE EDITION)
CASTLE 979 (Barcode: 5050159197927) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1969 Released: 2004
1st album by the amazingly talented UK organ player Brian AugerFind albums by this artist. With his profund understanding of jazz and perfect technique, Brian Auger was a prime example of all the vital elements one can expect from a great musician. His trio (called Trinity) worked with the superb singer Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist (see her releases), but also recorded separately. The music can be considered as early fusion or instrumental Jazz-Rock, but the labels just don`t cover the sophistication and the beauty of it - just sit down and listen!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | BRIAN AUGER / TRINITY ~ LIVE AT ROCKPALAST
REPERTOIRE 1474 (Barcode: 4009910147429) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2024
This is a live recording by legendary British Jazz / Fusion keyboards wizard Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, captured on October 20, 2011 in Bonn, Germany. It presents an attempt to relive the brief phenomenal success achieved in the late 1960s by Brian Auger and his TrinityFind albums by this artist with the singer Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist, which produced four quintessential early Fusion / Psychedelia British albums: “OpenFind albums with this title”, “Definitely What!Find albums with this title”, “StreetnoiseFind albums with this title” and “BefourFind albums with this title”. The lineup appearing here includes Auger on keyboards, bassist Les KingFind albums by this artist, Auger’s son Karma AugerFind albums by this artist on drums and his daughter Savannah GraceFind albums by this artist on vocals. The album presents thirteen tracks, most of which are contemporary redemptions of tracks from the a.m. albums. The accompanying DVD offset the video version of the same material.
I must admit that I had a lot of reservations about this project before I had the opportunity to listen to the music, for the obvious reasons. These four albums are an absolute “Holy Grail” of British recorded music, and any attempt to touch them in any form or shape sounds like blasphemy. But, with all due respect, it is Brian Auger’s music after all, so if anybody could be trying to revitalize it, it should be him.
I am relieved and happy to say that these new versions worked out pretty well after all; they are politely different from the originals and they respect the essence of the original music. Auger’s performances are absolutely sensational and his keyboards work lost nothing of its sensational virtuosity and inventiveness. The rhythm section keeps time, a bit less Jazzy and creatively than the original team, but times they are a-changin’. The greatest fear were of course the vocals, as nobody on earth comes close to the vocal abilities of Julie Driscoll, but Savannah skillfully manages to circumvent the challenge by avoiding copying Julie’s vocal groundbreaking innovations, and simply sticking to the tunes, which she does skillfully and without a hitch. She even manages to mimic some of Julie’s idiosyncrasies, which made me smile.
Overall, this is a respectful tribute to some of the greatest music recorded in UK in the late 1960s, brilliantly played by the Godfather of the original project, and for me the greatest organ player of all time. The fact that I managed to enjoy the music wholeheartedly means that is respectful to the origin and offers a first class aesthetic value. Thank you Brian for all the fantastic music you created over time, which made so many music-loving people so happy!
| | Updated: 24/08/2024Posted: 24/08/2024 | CD+DVD 2 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JULIE DRISCOLL ~ 1969
DISCONFORME 1966 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
1st solo album from 1971 by this superb vocalist after she left her long association with the keyboards player Brian Auger. Julie moves strongly towards the more challenging Prog environment supported by a stellar line-up of musicians led by her husband to be Keith Tippett (she would be later called Julie Tippetts). Fantastic guitar by Chris Spedding and the sublime Brian Godding. One of the best albums ever in the history of early UK Prog with strong ties to the UK jazz scene.
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  | JULIE DRISCOLL / BRIAN AUGER / TRINITY ~ LIVE ON AIR 1967-68
LONDON CALLING 5031 (Barcode: 5053792503117) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion
Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2019
This is an archival release of TV and live club performances by the legendary British vocalist Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / composer Brian AugerFind albums by this artist and his TrinityFind albums by this artist, which were at the peak of their commercial success when these recordings were made. The Trinity lineup changed several times in this period and included guitarists Gary BoyleFind albums by this artist and Vic BriggsFind albums by this artist, bassists Roger SuttonFind albums by this artist, Rick LairdFind albums by this artist and Dave AmbroseFind albums by this artist and drummers Clive ThackerFind albums by this artist, Micky WallerFind albums by this artist and Clem CattiniFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks recorded in UK and France, which include several versions of the same songs, overall seven songs from the repertoire of Driscoll and Auger albums released at the time. The quality of these historic recording varies but overall is good enough to be listened to and enjoyed in full.
Auger is of course one of the forefathers of Jazz-Rock Fusion and his Hammond performances are second to none to this very day. Deeply rooted in Jazz, Auger managed to create a wonderful amalgam of Jazz / Groove / Soul / Rock, which proved be as popular at the time as the most commercial recordings. He is still active today, five decades later.
Driscoll was one of the most idiosyncratic British Pop stars of all times and her performances in the late 1960s stand proudly side by side by the most important female Rock vocalist of the era. She later married the British Avant-Garde pianist / composer Keith Tippett and changed her vocal style into innovative Avant-Garde vocal Jazz explorations. She is also still active today, five decades later. One of the tracks on this album offers a recording of Driscoll supported by a large orchestra, which is absolutely unique in her discography.
Considering the fact that the recorded legacy of Driscoll, Auger and the Trinity is relatively limited, every scrap of recorded music featuring their unique talents is invaluable.
Side Note
Obiterdictum Ltd, a company based in Cyprus (oh well you know the story… copyright laws and legal issues) releases mostly live recorded radio broadcasts from the 1960s on and offers an amazing source of music which was never officially released by some of the best Classic Rock and Jazz artists. The catalogue offers five hundred releases, which is an absolute treasure chest of music history, often appearing for the first time.
Although the sound quality and sometimes also music quality range from absolutely brilliant to pretty poor, most of the material is surely listenable, especially after being remastered recently, and more importantly offers music which is not available elsewhere.
The company releases the albums under several sub-labels: Air CutsFind albums on this label, EchoesFind albums on this label, Hi HatFind albums on this label, HotspurFind albums on this label, InterferenceFind albums on this label, KeyholeFind albums on this label, KlondikeFind albums on this label, Live On VinylFind albums on this label, London CallingFind albums on this label, OrbitFind albums on this label, Rox VoxFind albums on this label and Sound StageFind albums on this label. There is no ironclad logic as to what material appears on which label, except perhaps some internal considerations by the Obiterdictum owners.
Approach with caution, but keep in mind that some of these releases are absolutely brilliant!
| | Updated: 27/07/2019Posted: 27/07/2019 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JULIE DRISCOLL / BRIAN AUGER / TRINITY ~ OPEN (DELUXE EDITION)
CASTLE 0978 (Barcode: 5050159197828) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1967 Released: 2004
2nd album by one of the most distinctive female voices ever on the UK scene. Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist was undoubtedly the most talented interpretter of soul material in her unique style which mixes soul with jazz and heavy psychedelia. Combined with the amazing talents of the organ player Brian AugerFind albums by this artist (see his releases), they were deadly. Just listen to Julie`s performance of DonovanFind albums by this artist`s `Season Of The Witch` - this surely must be one of the highlights of female singing in music`s history. The bonus material includes their amazing psychedelic hit `This Wheel`s On Fire`, penned by Bob DylanFind albums by this artist. Absolutely essential in any person`s collection!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JULIE DRISCOLL / BRIAN AUGER / TRINITY ~ STREETNOISE (DELUXE EDITION)
CASTLE 980 (Barcode: 5050159198023) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Originally released in 1969 as a double LP, this was to be the last cooperation between Julie and Brian (well not really, as they re-united for another album years later). This is undoubtedly one of the best proto-Prog releases of all times and one of the best 1960s albums. Julie`s expressive vocals are just heartbreaking and Brian`s jazzy hammond is unsurpassed. The material - a mixture of originals and covers - is very well selected and includes the unforgettable ode dedicated to the tragic Czech uprising (Czechoslovakia), which was brutally put down by invading armies of the Soviet block. Over the years this album lost absolutely nothing of its strength and beauty. Definitely an essential listen!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | THIEVES` KITCHEN ~ THE WATER ROAD
TK 4 (Barcode: 634479659010) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008
4th album by British (well almost) Prog band Thieves` KitchenFind albums by this artist, which comes five years after their splendid previous release ShibbolethFind albums with this title – quite a long time of course, but plainly worth the delay in view of the result. TK are one of the very few bands, which manages to make giant leaps between consecutive albums, all in the right direction. Each of their albums has not only been different stylistically and conceptually, but they consistently keep growing up and expanding their musical and lyrical vocabulary. Whereas the last album took them into the ambitious RIO direction, this one takes another turn and brings the band very closely to Scandinavian Prog, with Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist and AnglagardFind albums by this artist coming to mind almost immediately. The fact that the band has a Scandinavian member (ex-AnglagardFind albums by this artist keyboards player) and a few of the guest musicians on this album are Scandinavians as well might have something to do with this, but I prefer to give them the credit for choosing this path as part of their intentional direction-seeking. In view of the fact that Scandinavian Prog is definitely the most advanced and aesthetically rewarding on the contemporary Prog scene, TK could have chosen no better bearing than this. Fronted by the remarkable vocalist Amy DarbyFind albums by this artist, the band includes also four exceptional instrumentalist: Phil MercyFind albums by this artist – guitars, Thomas JohnsonFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Andy BonhamFind albums by this artist – bass and Mark RobothamFind albums by this artist – drums. Although Darby’s vocal parts are the most striking and immediately noticeable feature, there are plenty of great instrumental parts here, which are worth listening to attentively. Darby (as I already mentioned in my review of the previous album, her first with TK) continues the great tradition of outstanding unconventional female vocalist like Julie TippettsFind albums by this artist (Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist) and Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist. On this album she also occasionally reminds me of Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, another great model to follow. As if her singing abilities are not sufficient, Derby also wrote all the original lyrics on this album (two of the tracks feature lyrics translated from Chinese and one uses Sanskrit) and took care of the elegant and exquisite graphic design of the album’s artwork (and the band’s web site). Definitely a talented lady! The music is mostly contemplative, slowly developing the intricate melodies, with plenty of breathing space and long instrumental passages. Expanding the band with guest musicians playing flute, cello, oboe, saxophone and other instruments, the music receives a loving treatment and intimate chamber character. Kudos to TK for creating this beautiful piece of music. I only hope that many people will enjoy this album as much as I have. Wholeheartedly recommended!
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