Record Reviews
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  | COMMAND ALL STARS ~ CURIOSITIES 1972
REEL RECORDINGS 010 (Barcode: 676868178023) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008
This album is a great example of what the Canadian Reel RecordingsFind albums on this label label is all about: unearthing recorded documents of the British Jazz / Avant-Garde scene dating back to the 1960s, which have been so far completely lost and (sadly) often forgotten. Considering the fact that the Golden Decade (1965-1975) was Britain´s most illustrious contribution to music, any recorded document from that period has an immense historical value and therefore the work done by this label is truly a quest worth following. The music contained herein was recorded with the intention to be released as a double album, presenting the Art of spontaneous improvisation, performed by a collective of young (at the time) but experienced British players, who spearheaded the local Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene and certainly deserved the "stardom" status in spite of the oxymoron such epithet might imply: pianist Keith TippettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Mark CharigFind albums by this artist, bassists Harry MillerFind albums by this artist and Johnny DyaniFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist. These musicians often played with each other in various ensembles, of which they were members, but never collectively as one group, hence the one-time opportunity to hear them improvise collectively is so attractive. Unfortunately, as it often happened at the time, even with Jazz labels as the one for which these recordings were made, the label found this music to be "too much to swallow" and the project was discarded, including whipping out the original master tapes (a crime, without a doubt). Fortunately two copies of the original four reels were recently discovered by Evans and here we are being able to finally listen to this music. The music itself needs little elucidation to people familiar with the recorded output of the protagonists – it is what they always did best, play whatever their hearts dictated at the moment, carefully listening to each other and together creating a whole, which is much bigger than its parts. The album also includes two tracks recorded later the same year (for the BBC? as the recording premises might suggest) by a sextet including Dean, Evans and Charig with guitarist Jeff GreenFind albums by this artist, bassist Neville WhiteheadFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis MoholoFind albums by this artist. This is a true "blast from the past" and an absolute must for any British Jazz / Avant-Garde fan, wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | HUGH HOPPER ~ HOPPER TRINITY BOX
CUNEIFORM 240 (Barcode: 045775024028) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007
2nd album by Hugh HopperFind albums by this artist (and the first release after he left Soft MachineFind albums by this artist), released originally on the tiny Norwegian Compendium label (same label that originally released Henry CowFind albums by this artist’s ConcertsFind albums with this title and other weird but wonderful music). Musically the album belongs very strongly to the Soft Machine experimental Jazz-Rock of the ThirdFind albums by this artist, FourthFind albums with this title, FiveFind albums with this title & SixFind albums by this artist period (when Hopper was still a member of the group). Hopper enlisted eight great musicians (Mark CharigFind albums by this artist, Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, Dave StewartFind albums by this artist, Gary WindoFind albums by this artist and others), all members of the flourishing Canterbury scene and UK Jazz circles (members in groups like Brotherhood Of BreathFind albums by this artist, GilgameshFind albums by this artist, Hatfield And The NorthFind albums by this artist, IsotopeFind albums by this artist, Keith TippettFind albums by this artist Sextet, etc), who make up the duos, trios, quartets and quintets that play on this album. He wrote all the music, except one track, which was composed by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist. This album is considered Hopper’s most consistent release ever and sounds as fresh today as when it was first recorded. For all Canterbury scene and SM fans this is an absolute must and it’s a great joy to see this album available again. Brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Remastered 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 |
  | SOFT MACHINE ~ FOURTH (REMASTERED)
SONY BMG 687291 (Barcode: 828768729120) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2007
4th album, which finds Soft MachineFind albums by this artist back in the quartet format with Elton DeanFind albums by this artist as the new permanent member. Following the direction set on the previous album, SM moved even further away from their original psychedelic direction into experimental Jazz-Rock, which was groundbreaking and innovative to the extreme and aeons ahead of its time. In similar fashion to the previous album, the band used a horn-section to utilize a much more powerful sound and limitless sonic possibilities, which included the creme de la creme of (then) contemporary and burgeoning young UK jazz scene, including Roy BabingtonFind albums by this artist – acoustic bass, Nick EvansFind albums by this artist – trombone, Mark CharigFind albums by this artist – cornet, Jimmy HastingsFind albums by this artist – saxes and Alan SkidmoreFind albums by this artist – saxes. This expanded ensemble recorded one of the most beautiful and most sophisticated albums of the era, which is completely timeless and inspiring to this very day. This new direction created some tension (to put it mildly) between the jazz oriented trio and the band’s original drummer Robert WyattFind albums by this artist, which led to Wyatt’s departure from the band by mid-1971 (to start Matching MoleFind albums by this artist), before the next album would be recorded. Therefore this was to be the last SM album to feature his extraordinary drumming skills. This beautiful new remaster finally (for the first time ever) gets rid of the muddy and hollow sound from which this album suffered badly, obscuring much of the music it contained. Absolutely essential!
Visitors' Comments
Christopher Brice
It´s great to hear this properly at last - I have been listening to it over and over again since I broke the seal last night!
| | | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBERT WYATT ~ THE END OF AN EAR
COLUMBIA 493342 (Barcode: 5099749334229) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1970 Released: 1998
1st album by drummer / keyboardist / singer / composer and one of the Canterbury movement founding figures, Robert WyattFind albums by this artist, recorded while he was still a member of Soft MachineFind albums by this artist. Sadly often overlooked, this revolutionary recording shows Wyatt´s visionary approach to music and his deep involvement with the UK Avant-Garde Jazz scene, which was approaching a peak of its development at the time. Overall this album is more radically Jazz oriented than the music created by Soft Machine at the time, which was still related to Rock roots and essentially an extension of the early Jazz-Rock Fusion efforts. The only Soft Machine member appearing on this album is saxophonist Elton DeanFind albums by this artist, who shared Wyatt´s passion for Jazz. The rest of the players are prominent UK Jazz musicians like bassist Neville WhiteheadFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Mark CharigFind albums by this artist, pianist Mark ElidgeFind albums by this artist and Canterbury legend Dave SinclairFind albums by this artist on organ. Wyatt composed all the music except one tune, which is a Gil EvansFind albums by this artist composition heavily arranged by Wyatt. Wyatt´s drumming on this album is spectacular, completely unique in his rhythmic approach and closely related in the form of collective improvisation to the expressions of his partners. One can only imagine how Wyatt´s involvement with the British Avant-Garde Jazz scene would have developed, if not for the tragic accident, which cut short his drumming career. Therefore this album becomes even more historically important, presenting that aspect of the man´s genius. For listeners acquainted with Wyatt´s later years, this album should be quite a revelation, although probably a much tougher musical challenge. In retrospect this album remains as essential document of an era, when breaking musical barriers was completely acceptable and music was making giant steps towards a new horizon. This is a visionary work in every respect, which should be cherished and returned to periodically, to be re-discovered. A must for any serious music lover!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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