Record Reviews

TERRY SMITH ~ FALL OUT SUNBEAM 5008 (Barcode: 5051125500819) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2006 Guitarist / composer Terry SmithFind albums by this artist was one of the busiest musicians on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s. Voted the best Jazz guitarist in the 1968 polls, when this album was recorded, Smith was not only playing at the regular Jazz venues around London, but was also a member of the backup group of singer Scott WalkerFind albums by this artist, who was at the peak of his popularity at the time. Walker, although extremely successful as a Pop artists, had a keen musical ear and was trying to get away from the sugary Pop image by employing some of the best Jazz musicians at the time In his band, which was led by no other than the legendary Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist. Walker used his influence with his label (PhilipsFind albums on this label) to offer a recording opportunity to some of the young and extremely talented musicians in the band, which led to the recording of this debut album by Terry Smith. As this album shows, Smith already had an extraordinary technique and feel for Jazz. Based on the tradition created by players like Kenny BurrellFind albums by this artist and Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist, Smith took his guitar work a few steps further adding his personal touch. Of course just a few months later Smith would become one of the founding members of the British Jazz-Rock ensemble IfFind albums by this artist, which successfully competed with their American counterparts like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist and ChicagoFind albums by this artist. On this album Smith is accompanied by some of the best British Jazz musicians at the time, including Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist on sax and flute, Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist on piano and Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist on bass. Of the eight tracks on this album, three are his originals and the rest standards, beautifully arranged for a big Jazz ensemble. Two of the tracks are performed by Smith’s trio with Bob StuckleyFind albums by this artist on organ and Chris KarenFind albums by this artist on drums. This is an excellent album by all means and it’s great to have it back from oblivion after all these years. Recommended!

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SCOTT WALKER ~ SCOTT: THE COLLECTION 1967-1970 MERCURY 602537288496 (Barcode: 602537288496) ~ UK ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1970 Released: 2013 This Box Set collects five of the six albums recorded by British (born in USA) singer / songwriter Scott WalkerFind albums by this artist, who earned his initial fame as the lead singer of the Walker BrothersFind albums by this artist vocal trio. These albums cover the early solo career of Walker, after the trio split, only to be reunited and active again between 1975 and 1978. The album not included in this Box Set ("Scott Walker Sings Songs From His TV SeriesFind albums with this title") was never reissues on CD due to Scott´s opposition to do so. Walker recorded four more solo albums before the Walker Brothers reunion, but those recordings are considered as significantly less valuable. All the five albums included here are absolute masterpieces, presenting an intellectual singer / songwriter who takes his music seriously and completely ignores the fads of fashion and commerciality. Deeply interested in Jazz and European Culture, which was a hive of activity at the time, Walker carefully chose a mixture of self-written material and covers, especially those of songs by Jacques BrelFind albums by this artist, whom he admired, to create a music which clearly stood apart from almost everything else created in the Pop domain at the time. Blessed with a velvet baritone and a superb artistic delivery, Walker recorded his albums supported by large orchestras, conducted by the best and often very innovative British arrangers / orchestrators active at the time. In retrospect these albums are all classics of European balladry, which remain completely untouched by time. In parallel to his solo career Walker also produced albums by other artists, including debut albums British Jazz heroes Terry SmithFind albums by this artist ("Fall OutFind albums with this title") and Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist ("First AlbumFind albums with this title"). After years of reclusion and silence Walker returned to the centre of the music scene in the 2000s with a series of revolutionary albums, which find him again at the forefront of music making. This Box Set is a treasure chest of elegance, intellectual songwriting and sensitive performances, which are timeless and deserve to be revisited or discovered by next generations of music lovers.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

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RAY WARLEIGH ~ FIRST ALBUM SUNBEAM 5020 (Barcode: 5051125502011) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1968 Released: 2006 Australian born saxophonist / flautist / composer Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist was one of the busiest musicians on the British Jazz scene in the late 1960s. He was not only playing at the regular Jazz venues around London, but was also a member of the backup group of singer Scott WalkerFind albums by this artist, who was at the peak of his popularity at the time. Walker, although extremely successful as a Pop artists, had a keen musical ear and was trying to get away from the sugary Pop image by employing some of the best Jazz musicians at the time In his band, which was led by no other than the legendary Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist. Walker used his influence with his label (PhilipsFind albums on this label) to offer a recording opportunity to some of the young and extremely talented musicians in the band, which led to the recording of this debut album by Ray Warleigh. Warleigh would become famous later for playing on album by the top Rock stars like Nick DrakeFind albums by this artist, Elton JohnFind albums by this artist, U2Find albums by this artist, Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist and many more. The format chosen for this album was “Jazz & strings”, which suited Warleigh’s superbly clear and lyrical style perfectly. The chosen material (all standards) was beautifully arranged for a large string orchestra and a Jazz rhythm section, which included some of the best British Jazz players at the time, like Gordon BackFind albums by this artist on piano, Kenny NapperFind albums by this artist on bass and Terry CoxFind albums by this artist on drums. The resulting album is a stunning debut, beautifully executed by all the musicians involved, and showing Warleigh to be a world class player, who can improvise freely and yet always stay within the melodic line. Jazz & strings albums have a tendency to fall into the “land of saccharine” very easily, but fortunately this is well avoided here, producing a most enjoyable Jazz album full of integrity and showmanship. It’s great to have this forgotten gem back in circulation.

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