Author – Folkishienne

Michael Garrick: Black Marigolds (Argo 1966)

Another one comped by Peterson, Black Marigolds is probably not my favorite Garrick LP as a whole. However, I can’t escape my love for “Ursula” played by Don Rendell on Soprano and tenor Sax with Ian Carr on fluegel horn.  “Ursula” [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Michael Garrick: The Heart Is A Lotus (Argo 1970)

Featuring collaborators Ian Carr, Don Rendell and Norma Winstone. I do really like this LP as a whole but somehow I feel there’s more in there that I haven’t picked up on. It seems to promise my expectations but I appear to be unable to track the true direction of the vibe on this LP. […]

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]

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]

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 […]

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 […]

The Dick Morrissey Quartet: "Have You Heard?" 77 Records

Produced by Doug Dobell, there is some speculation as to weather this LP and all other releases on 77 records were only available from his shop (Dobells) Whatever the case, Have You Heard is a great LP featuring Harry South (Piano) Dick Morrissey (Tenor) Phil Bales (Bass) and Jackie Dougan (Drums). Morrissey was the ripe […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mike Westbrook: Marching Songs Vol 1 (Deram 1969)

Themed around the futility of War the sleeve notes narrate a landscape of conflict. “The Soldiers march in tightly closed ranks, grimly, the flamboyance of the parade is forgotten”. The track included here is the strangely titled “Waltz” featuring Gibbs, Osbourne, and Skidmore et al. The track connotes for Westbrook at least, “Soldiers drunk with […]

Neil Ardley/Ian Carr/Don Rendell: Greek Variations (Columbia 1970)

Themed on a series of Greek Folk tunes, this LP is segmented into three sections (More or less one for each artist under the ultimate influence of Ardley) Ian Carr’s contribution (Incorporating pretty much the original Nucleus line up) is most notable. “Persephone’s Jive”, an intense upbeat stomp that takes the Greek theme, abstracts it, […]

Michael Garrick Trio: Cold Mountain (Argo)

A very listenable LP featuring Dave Green on bass and Trevor Tompkins on Drums. Thanks Giving Dance started life in 1967 as part of John Smith’s four ritual dances.

Polish Jazz Quartet: S/T (Muza 1964)

The track featured is titled “Przechadzka Puustymi Ulicami” (Translates to “Promenade through the empty streets”). A piano / sax led modal piece with a smoky vibe that grooves bang on point. The cover art illustrates the vibe far better than my rambling dirge.

Neil Ardley: Symphony of Amaranths (Regal Zonophone 1972)

This Lp plays host to numerous British Jazz players. Norma Winstone features on three tracks, ‘Will you walk a little faster’ was comped by Peterson, however ‘After Long Silence’ and ‘She weeps over Rahoon’ are both very warm and emotive the latter being warm yet sombre. The tracks fade into one another on the LP, […]