Record Reviews

JOE HARRIOTT ~ THE RAKE`S PROGRESS – AT THE BBC RHYTHM AND BLUES 084 (Barcode: 5060331752882) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1961 - 1966 Released: 2022 This is an archival album presenting three sessions recorded by the BBC with the Jamaica born legendary British saxophonist / composer Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist and his quintets in 1961, 1964 and 1966, altogether seventeen tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Harriott (for undisclosed reasons the order of the sessions on the CD is not chronological). The 1961 quintet includes trumpeter Les CondonFind albums by this artist, pianist Pat SmytheFind albums by this artist, bassist Coleridge GoodeFind albums by this artist and drummer Phil SeamenFind albums by this artist. The 1964 quintet includes trumpeter Shake KeaneFind albums by this artist, Smythe, Goode and drummer Bobby OrrFind albums by this artist. The 1966 quintet includes trumpeter Ian CarrFind albums by this artist, pianist Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist, Goode and drummer Alan GreenFind albums by this artist. The music faithfully represents the dramatic development of Harriott’s music in the early 1960s, moving between Bebop and Free Jazz, and eventually resulting in a completely individual form of Free Improvisation, which was distinctly different from the American Free Jazz, which was being created across the pond. The five albums Harriott recorded between 1960 and 1964: “Southern HorizonsFind albums with this title”, “Free FormFind albums with this title”, “AbstractFind albums with this title”, “MovementFind albums with this title” and “High SpiritFind albums with this title” (in particular the mid three) are absolutely fundamental classics, being one of the earliest modern British Jazz recordings, signaling the revolution which will shake and reshape the local Jazz scene in the years to come. Although the recording is in Mono, the sound quality is excellent and every note of the music is perfectly audible. The choice of material is rather conservative, probably considering the fact that the BBC broadcasts were not entirely directed to the small minority of Free Jazz listeners. Harriott’s albums were rather harshly criticized by the Jazz “establishment” at the time, as usual with forward thinking Artists, who were simply light-years ahead of the music critics at the time. Overall, every note of music recorded by Harriott is of course absolutely worth hearing, and since the material included on this album was, as far as I know, not released previously anywhere, it is worth its weight in gold. Warmly recommended to all British Jazz fans anywhere on this planet.

Updated: 29/09/2022Posted: 29/09/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ LIVE AT THE FLAMINGO 1958 RHYTHM AND BLUES 092 (Barcode: 5060331753445) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 Released: 2023 This is an archival album by the iconic British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist. It presents a previously unreleased live recording at the legendary Flamingo club in London, captured during the early days of Hayes’ career, before he achieved the top rank on the British scene. The music is performed by a formidable octet, with trumpeters Les CondonFind albums by this artist and Stuart HamerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist, Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist and Hayes, pianist Terry ShannonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill EydenFind albums by this artist – a band that in fact existed only once for that particular concert. Three additional musicians guest on selected tracks. The album presents nine tracks, seven of which are standards and two are originals, one by Jimmy DeucharFind albums by this artist and another by Hayes. The accompanying booklet offers an informative essay by Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist, who is the author of the Tubby Hays biography, which of course is worth reading. The music is of course still mostly in the American Bebop tradition, but clearly shows how the British musicians adopted that tradition and added a very specific “British touch” to it, already at that early stage. The individual performances are nothing short of brilliant and the octet arrangements are clever and sophisticated. The club atmosphere is a reminder why the Flamingo was a place to be in late 1950’s London, when one wanted to hear some great music (and for other less cultural reasons). The recording is mono, but offers quite reasonable sound quality, which enables everything to be heard properly, even if the drums are sometimes a tad too high in the mix, a small price to pay for the splendid music, which lost nothing of its vitality in the sixty-five years since it was recorded. Overall, this is a superb piece of British Jazz history, and a splendid reminder of the great talent of one of its most impressive heroes. Hayes was undoubtedly one of the greatest European saxophonist, and his talent was recognized also on the other side of the pond, which happened rarely. His pioneering ability to combine the Jazz tradition with modernism and even early Avant-Garde Jazz approach, in addition to his superhuman performing skills, makes him a legendary figure, which should be remembered by all, especially since he left us tragically way to prematurely.

Updated: 24/10/2023Posted: 19/10/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TONY KINSEY ~ HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING / TIME GENTLEMEN PLEA VOCALION 4262 (Barcode: 765387426224) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 - 1963 Released: 2005 British drummer Tony KinseyFind albums by this artist was one of the pillars of the local Jazz scene in the crucial period of late 1950s and early 1960s when British Jazz was absorbing the influences of the American Jazz and transforming them slowly into a new language of European Jazz. Although still very much influenced by American Bebop players, Kinsey and his quintet took the music a step further, replacing the raw energy of Bebop with European sophistication and classic harmony, producing highly intelligent music which was also elegant and although seemingly straight-forward, quite complex at its core. These two albums, from 1963 and 1958 present two of Kinsey´s quintets, both including trumpeter Les CondonFind albums by this artist, but the 1963 quintet includes two young players, which were destined to be crucial figure on the British Jazz scene in the decade that followed, saxophonist Peter KingFind albums by this artist and brilliant pianist Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist. This is great music, richly deserving to be remembered, and this reissue is truly a great opportunity to take a glimpse at this interesting period of early European Jazz. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend