VARIOUS ARTISTS - A NEW AWAKENING - Adventures In British Jazz 1966-1971 (Release date 21st Feb, 2025) (Cherry Red)

Part Two: CD two

The track listing is as follows with brief comments after each track:

1) The John Cameron Quartet – Troublemaker (1969): A fine example of a 12-bar bluesy variation venturing into soul-jazz with piano, sax and flute; Cameron’s work as an arranger and producer included with Donovan and as a film composer, as well as a part of CCS’s take on Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ used as the theme tune to Top of the Pops. The musicians here are Tony Carr, Harold McNair and Danny Thompson)

2) The Graham Collier Sextet – Down Another Road (1969): Some spirited brass playing on the title track of a group which included Kenny Wheeler, Karl Jenkins and John Marshall.

3) John McLaughlin – Binky’s Beam (1969): The distinctive McLaughlin guitar style is instantly recognisable from one of his best-known albums “Extrapolation”, released on Marmalade. The blues are never far away on an intriguing post-bop instrumental; this was just before John was a member of Tony Williams’ Lifetime and Miles Davis’s electric period band. Binky McKenzie was his bass player.

4) The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet – One Green Eye (1969): This is something very different from the “Change Is” LP, influenced by Coltrane and Indian music; this track features some rather interesting percussion.

5) The New Jazz Orchestra – Angle( 1969): Led by Neil Ardley the NJO’s musicians included Barbara Thompson, Jon Heisman, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Jack Bruce.

6) Ken Wheeler And The John Dankworth Orchestra – Sweet Dulcinea Blue (1969): Trumpeter and composer Wheeler had been a member of the JDO between 1959 and 1969, and on this slightly lugubrious ballad the exchanges between trumpet and guitar are particularly ear-catching.

7) Michael Gibbs – Some Echoes, Some Shadows (For John Dankworth) (1970): A groovy track in ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ mode, reflecting the changing times with its leanings towards funk and rock.

8) Wynder K. Frog – Harpsichord Shuffle (1968): Another 12-bar blues from “Out of the Frying Pan” with the sax (Dick Heckstall-Smith) and guitar briefly soloing; Mike Weaver is on clavinet and not his customary Hammond B3.

9) Jasper – The Beard (1969): More of an obscurity, soul jazz in style with a call and response between flute and organ.

10) Manfred Mann Chapter Three – Where Am I Going (1969): A soulful ruminative ballad from an artist who needs no introduction with the third instalment of his various projects, culminating in the mighty Earthband.

11) Colosseum (1969): The title track from their debut “Those Who Are About to Die Salute You” LP, combining jazz with rock and blues and even a touch of Latin; 100 miles an hour stuff with the rest trying to keep up with Dave Greenslade’s organ.

12 Keef Hartley Band – Premonition (1970): I enjoyed reviewing the Keef Hartley albums for Esoteric and “The Times is Near” was one of my favourites. Hartley’s claim to fame was to replace Ringo Starr in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He made a pretty good name for himself although he was ‘sacked’ by John Mayall! The guitar break is the icing on the cake. This track was written by trumpeter Dave Caswell (ex-Galliard).

13) Nucleus – Elastic Rock (1970): They might be thought of as a kind of Brit equivalent of Miles Davis’s electric period jazz (Ian Carr wrote a book about Miles after all): This subtle title track is one of many highlights from the album, featuring some intricate electric guitar work.

14) Brian Auger & The Trinity – Maiden Voyage (1970): Another marvellous Hammond organ infused cover, of the Herbie Hancock classic this time from the “Befour” album

15)Affinity – A Day in The Life (1969): A lesser-known Beatles cover and out-take from the prog jazz rock band named after an Oscar Peterson album, recorded live At Ronnie Scott’s (who was Affinity’s manager). Strangely enough Auger & The Trinity covered the same song as an instrumental.

16) The Johnny Almond Music Machine – Voodoo Forest (1969): Another band I have reviewed for Esoteric in the past, saxist Almond has a fine pedigree with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac. This track was originally on the LP “Patent Pending”.

17) Jack Bruce With John McLaughlin, Dick Heckstall- Smith, Jon Hiseman – Over The Cliff (1970): What a way to finish, with Bruce on double bass on a highly regarded Polydor album.