All reviews by Folkishienne

Amancio D'Silva: "Integration" Columbia 1969 Amancio D’Silva: “Integration” Columbia 1969

For me this is a very special record, Featuring: Amancio D’silva, Ian Carr, Don Rendell, Dave Green and Trevor Tomkins. Every track on this album is innovative and perfectly executed I only wish I had more space on my server to upload the record as a whole. The track featured here is titled Ganges, I [...]

Surman/Skidmore/Oxley: Jazz in Britain '68 - '69 (Decca Eclipse) Surman/Skidmore/Oxley: Jazz in Britain ‘68 – ‘69 (Decca Eclipse)

Featuring the cream of Brit experimentalists this LP highlights some of the creativeness going on in the UK scene towards the end of the 60’s. The track included here is “Shepherd Oak”. Featuring: John Surman, Alan Skidmore, Mike Osbourne, Harry Beckett, John Taylor and others. Surprisingly restrained for these particular players who are / were [...]

Alan Skidmore Quintet: TCB (Philips 1970) Alan Skidmore Quintet: TCB (Philips 1970)

Featuring Skidmore, John Taylor, Mike Osbourne and John Surman et al. This LP is made of lunacy I sold my previous copy of this and regretted not really giving it a fair chance, I’m pleased to have found another copy but I can see why I found difficulty with it. Predominantly the LP consists of [...]

B.J Ward: "Vocal Ease" Catfish B.J Ward: “Vocal Ease” Catfish

The Title cut is a kind of groovy female jazz number with upfont vocals in a similar vein to Doris et al. I can’t shake the chorus and it hasn’t left my deck since it came through the door. More than a one trick pony, this Lp features several decent tracks including “The Loner” (as [...]

Brother Ah: "Key To Knowhere" Divine Records 1983 Brother Ah: “Key To Knowhere” Divine Records 1983

Another spiritual piece with a very nice version of “Motherless Child” featuring vocals from Nataska Hasan Toussef and swirling harp from Jeff Majors. The sleeve notes by Minerva Gail describe the LP thus: “The Sound Is spiritual. We hear the blues” the healing blues that remind us of ourselves, let us know here we have [...]

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath (RCA Neon) Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood Of Breath (RCA Neon)

SA McGregor had a particularly hard time in the UK with his band of African Jazzers although highly acclaimed his first line up disbanded before McGregor went on to form a new group. The story of what happened to some of the guys playing in his first line up and this “new” line up is [...]

Cosmic Eye: Dream Sequence (Amancio D'Silva) Regal Zonophone 1972 Cosmic Eye: Dream Sequence (Amancio D’Silva) Regal Zonophone 1972

Produced by Lansdown’s Denis Preston the line up on this 500 micron raga led blast off includes: Amancio D’Silva, John Mayer and Alan Branscombe in conjunction with a host of highly accomplished Indian players. No titles, beginning or end, both sides take the raga route extending, developing and guiding the ear deep into a trance. [...]

Dee Dee Bridgewater: "Afro Blue" Trio 1974 Dee Dee Bridgewater: “Afro Blue” Trio 1974

Supported by her brothers Cacil and Ron on this Japanese only issue LP. Dee Dee’s vocal skills get a serious workout on the title cut Afro Blue, a driving belter that does to these ears deserve the adulation it has received over the years. With all of that said I’ve always been drawn to her [...]

Dick Morrissey Quartet: "It's Morrissey, Man!" Fontana 1961 Dick Morrissey Quartet: “It’s Morrissey, Man!” Fontana 1961

I love the Britishness of this LP from cover shot to content. The image of the Quartet on the tracks is inspired. The artistic concept is flawless. Apart from having to cart a double bass along the tracks which must have been a bad day out for Bassist Malcolm Cecil. Morrissey’s second LP this record [...]

Dick Morrissey Quartet: Storm Warning (Mercury 1965) Dick Morrissey Quartet: Storm Warning (Mercury 1965)

Comprising of Dm, Harry South, Phil Bates, and Phil Seamen the quartet are certainly tight having worked together for three years at the point of this release. This is quite possibly my favorite Morrissey LP. The track for inclusion here is the title cut penned by Harry South. 
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Don Rendell / Ian Carr: "Dusk Fire" Columbia 1966 Don Rendell / Ian Carr: “Dusk Fire” Columbia 1966

Garrick joins the band and composes some of the cuts on Dusk fire, arguably the quintets best release??
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Don Rendell / Ian Carr: Phase III (Columbia 1968) Don Rendell / Ian Carr: Phase III (Columbia 1968)

Having won the Melody Maker best British Jazz Group poll in 67 the Rendell / Carr Quintet had gathered a reasonable following of fans despite the decline in popularity of jazz amongst music lovers as they continued to opt for other forms of experimental music. With the Summer of love upon them the Quintets response [...]

Don Rendell / Ian Carr: Shades of Blue 1965 Don Rendell / Ian Carr: Shades of Blue 1965

The first of the Rendell / Carr quintet series, this LP features Colin Purbrook on keys (Garrick joined the quintet on Dusk fire) Overall a great LP but perhaps not quite as solid as Dusk Fire. Carr describes the aim of the LP in the sleeve notes stating. “What Don and I aimed at was [...]

Graham Collier Sextet: Down Another Road Graham Collier Sextet: Down Another Road

On the Nucleus tip, combining jazz with beat driven groves, this LP works well. The track included here is the title cut with John Marshall on drums..(Just noticed there are x2 jumps on this – looks like I should’ve cleaned this one before recording).
“Down Another Road”
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Graham Collier: Deep Dark Blue Centre Graham Collier: Deep Dark Blue Centre

Horns, guitars and bass catch a groove on the cut “Crumblin’ Cookie”, featured on the Peterson comp and regarded by many as Colliers finest moment, I seriously love this cut, it makes me play air sax.
“Crumblin’ Cookie”
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Hal Singer / Jef Gilson: Soul of Africa Hal Singer / Jef Gilson: Soul of Africa

I’ve got myself lost in this LP more than once. Perhaps it’s a romantic thing but I do seem to conjure up a sense of sophistication when I listen to French jazz. It seems even the cover has a touch more panache than comparable releases.  Soul of Africa is a very listenable spiritual outing, which [...]

Harry Beckett: Flare Up (Philips 1970) Harry Beckett: Flare Up (Philips 1970)

Stare into Harry’s eyes on the cover shot and you get the sense he wants to do the nasty with your frontal lobes. Harry, you see is hardcore. This is a hard hitting LP with a very British flavour. The track for inclusion here is “Third Road”. John Webb’s drumming on this cut is exceptional [...]

Indiana Highway and Faraway Folk: Good Tidings Of Great Joy – RA Indiana Highway and Faraway Folk: Good Tidings Of Great Joy – RA

This is a Christmas EP sampler from the RA label featuring a rather out of place cut (We Three Kings by Indiana Highway) There is a crudity in terms of recording and even some timing slips which for me at least only add to the sound. I have the other Indiana Highway EP which is [...]

James Tatum: Jazz Mass (Jttp) James Tatum: Jazz Mass (Jttp)

Having converted to Catholicism James attempts here to explore the religious ecstasy of “Mass” though the medium of Jazz. Weather your into Jesus or not there is a strong argument for the influence Jesus and his Dads book have played in many forms of music throughout the ages. As you may have gathered from the [...]

James Tatum: Live (JTTP. 1980) James Tatum: Live (JTTP. 1980)

Another spiritual work out for James, this live LP was recorded at Orchestra Hall & Paradise Theatre, a venue which was apparently due for demolition a few months prior to this recording. The cover notes don’t elaborate on quite how the venue swerved the wrecking ball but I quite like the idea that jazz was [...]

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