Record Reviews

DICK MORRISSEY ~ AT THE BBC 1967 RHYTHM AND BLUES 074 (Barcode: 5060331752608) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by seminal British saxophonist / composer / bandleader Dick MorrisseyFind albums by this artist. The album presents two BBC sessions captured in June and October 1967 performed by his quartet, with included pianist Harry SouthFind albums by this artist, bassist Phil BatesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill EydenFind albums by this artist. The two sessions produced twelve tracks, with three tunes repeated in both sessions, most being Jazz standards and just one original by South. The music is all well within the mainstream Jazz idiom, but formidably performed by the quartet and presents Morrissey as a wonderfully talented player, considered at the time as second only to the legendary Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist. Morrissey fans should definitely put their hands on the VocalionFind albums on this label twofer reissue “Here And Now And Sounding Good / Storm Warning!Find albums with this title” of his 1965/66 studio albums, which offer similar music to what can be herd here. The sound quality of these recordings if excellent, which of course makes listening to the music a true pleasure. Following his Bebop / Hard Bop period, by the end of the 1960s Morrissey switched to the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom, first with the brilliant group IfFind albums by this artist, which lasted till 1975 and recorded eight albums and later with the Morrissey-Mullen BandFind albums by this artist, formed with guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist, which lasted for fifteen years and recorded seven excellent albums. Morrissey died from cancer in 2000 at the age of 60, as usual in such cases way too early, as his glorious recording legacy proves.

Updated: 10/08/2021Posted: 10/08/2021

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DICK MORRISSEY ~ HERE AND NOW AND SOUNDING GOOD / STORM WARNING! VOCALION 8479 (Barcode: 765387847920) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2011 This exquisite reissue brings to life two extremely rare mid-1960s quartet recordings by the great British saxophonist Dick MorrisseyFind albums by this artist, one of the great representatives of the British Jazz scene at its peak in the 1960s / 1970s. Earning respect and admiration as a Hard Bop player (as documented on these two albums) Morrissey later formed the fantastic early Jazz-Rock ensemble IfFind albums by this artist and after it disbanded he formed the Morrissey-Mullen BandFind albums by this artist (with guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist), which lasted for almost two decades as one of the best and most stable British bands. Sadly Morrissey died in 2000, losing his battle with cancer. A brilliant player with enormous sensitivity and beautiful tone, Morrissey remains a symbol of the times, when music sounded better and girls looked prettier (to old farts like myself of course). This album is sweet and mellow, with superb performance by pianist Harry SouthFind albums by this artist, who also contributed several original compositions, bassist Phil BatesFind albums by this artist and drummers Bill EydenFind albums by this artist (first album) and the legend Phil SeamenFind albums by this artist (second album). Disregarding the element of nostalgia, this is a damn great Jazz album, which swings like mad and makes life worth living. The recording quality (and the superb remastering by Michael J. DuttonFind albums by this artist) is simply breathtaking. So in short: don’t you dare to miss this beauty!

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JIMMY WITHERSPOON ~ LIVE IN LONDON 1966 RHYTHM AND BLUES 066 (Barcode: 5060331752349) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 1966 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by the American Blues singer Jimmy WitherspoonFind albums by this artist recorded during his visit in London, accompanied by top British Jazz musicians. The album presents twenty tracks, recorded during three separate sessions. The majority (thirteen) of the tracks were recorded at the legendary London pub “The Bulls Head”, with Witherspoon accompanied by the saxophonist Dick MorrisseyFind albums by this artist’s quartet with pianist Harry SouthFind albums by this artist, bassist Phil BatesFind albums by this artist and iconic drummer Phil SeamenFind albums by this artist. On six additional tracks (two of which are instrumentals only) he is accompanied by saxophonist Peter KingFind albums by this artist and the same rhythm section as above. On one tack he is accompanied by the great Alexis KornerFind albums by this artist’s (who plays guitar) Blues IncorporatedFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist, pianist Chris PyneFind albums by this artist, bassist Danny ThompsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Terry CoxFind albums by this artist. Except for three originals by Witherspoon, all the tracks are Blues / Jazz standards. The music is all a natural mixture of Blues and Jazz, clearly emphasizing the proximity between the two genres. Witherspoon obviously feels very comfortable with his British companions, being used to work with Jazz musicians back home and the Brits are familiar with the repertoire, which altogether makes the music sound completely natural and easy-going. There are no great surprises here, but the album is an excellent example of the diversity of the British Blues boom that exploded by the mid-1960s and declines almost as rapidly just half a decade later. That great movement included Blues, Jazz and early Rock musicians working shoulder to shoulder to create the British Blues, which took the American tradition of the genre a step further, adding a pinch of European aesthetics to the mixture. Overall this is a nice reminder of how the music created by visiting American Blues singers / musicians sounded when they were accompanied by British musicians, which happened quite often at the time. For Blues and British Jazz enthusiasts this is definitely an album worth pursuing.

Updated: 16/07/2021Posted: 16/07/2021

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