British jazz Re-issues Next Batch

[point_moot]

I just read about this new Bob Downes archive release in the DMG newsletter and I don't think it has been mentioned here yet (though I could be wrong)...

BOB DOWNES OPEN MUSIC TRIO With BARRY GUY/DENIS SMITH - Flashback (Openian; Germany)

Previously unreleased live & studio recordings featuring Bob Downes on flutes, tenor, alto & soprano saxes simultaneously & vocals, Barry Guy on bass and Denis Smith on drums.

British flute legend, Bob Downes formed his Open Music group in 1968 with drummer Denis Smith, the title referring to the fact that the trio was "open" to many types of musics and situations. A number of other great British and South African musicians were involved in various versions of Open Music like Barry Guy, Johnny Dyani, Harry Miller, Barre Phillips, Jeff Clyne, Chris Spedding, Ray Russell, Ian Carr and Lindsay Cooper. Open Music recorded some half dozen great albums in the late sixties and early seventies, but only a couple have been reissued like 'Diversions' on Vocalion and 'Episodes at
4am' on Paradigm. Mr. Downes left London in 1980 for an isolated farmhouse in the south of Germany where he still resides. Bob Downes started his own label Openian in 1972, the first British musician to start his own independent label. His label continues and he has released a few reissues as well as some unreleased discs.

This disc features over an hour of unreleased studio and live sessions from 1971 and 1973. What I dig most about this music is the spirited, exuberant quality. Bob plays a different flute or sax on every piece and does a bit of wordless singing here & there. Master bassist, Barry Guy, was pretty young in 1971 and even plays an electric bass one of these tracks, a rarity for him, yet his playing is also strong and consistently spirited. The trio plays a number of great funky grooves with lots of wonderful flute or sax solos scattered throughout. The Open Music Trio have an organic approach to winding their way through these pieces like a most successful jam session.

While listening to this great disc in my kitchen where my computer is, I had to dance around since it made me feel so good! Bob writes a number of consistently enchanting melodies and infectious songs that will make you feel good as well.

- Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

http://www.dtmgallery.com/Main/index.htm

[Marcello Carlin]

Had these come through a couple of weeks ago and the bad news is there's been some abridging. In order to fit both albums onto one CD Mongs' "Friday Night Blues" from Oh! For The Edge has basically had its first 7 1/2 minutes or so lopped off and is faded in just as Elton's about to start his solo.

I really don't blame Hazel or Ogun for this - the argument would doubtless be, it's better to have this stuff available in whatever form rather than not at all - but the continuing economic situation which prevents Ogun from putting out the full 2CD package this group certainly deserved. Fair enough, in this current climate I don't suppose you can justify pressing up double the quantity of CDs to accommodate a few extra minutes of music if you haven't got money to burn but really it's a huge, huge shame - those who know side two of the original O!FTE intimately know the importance of having this long, easy swing of a tune in between two very mournful and solemn pieces. If you want the whole story then sadly you'll have to retrieve/hunt out the original. If you're completely new to Ninesense, however, then it's a crucial listen - I never really rated Happy Daze at the time but it sounds surprisingly fresh and vital in 2009 - in tandem with the Live At The BBC disc. Keith Tippett in particular is just supernatural on both records.

[point_moot]

Oh, that is a shame.

If the track was remastered in its complete form prior to the edit (which seems most likely) perhaps it could be possible to convince Ogun to make the unedited version available for download for those who've bought the CD?.. but given that Ogun don't even have a website at the moment I guess that is unlikely.

[Midnight Blue]

Originally Posted by Marcello Carlin

Had these come through a couple of weeks ago and the bad news is there's been some abridging. In order to fit both albums onto one CD Mongs' "Friday Night Blues" from Oh! For The Edge has basically had its first 7 1/2 minutes or so lopped off and is faded in just as Elton's about to start his solo.

That is a shame, as for me it is really the highlight of that first album, but thinking about it, it is the only piece on there that could be edited down like that and still actually exist.

[RogerFarbey]

News flash! - There will be a memorial concert for the late Ian Carr on Tuesday 23 February 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Details of musicians appearing will be released soon.

[Apologies for posting this in the wrong thread but I will do that in the 'Get the Word Out' one as soon as I have firm details of musicians participating and thought followers of this particular thread would like to be the first to learn this news]

[Paul of London]

Originally Posted by Marcello Carlin

Had these come through a couple of weeks ago and the bad news is there's been some abridging. In order to fit both albums onto one CD Mongs' "Friday Night Blues" from Oh! For The Edge has basically had its first 7 1/2 minutes or so lopped off and is faded in just as Elton's about to start his solo.

This sort of messing about was done on one of my favourite albums, not a jazz one, but nonetheless I think readers here will be interested.

It was a John Fahey CD re-release, America. It was originally released as a single LP, but enough music had been recorded for a double. So when it was re-released on CD, it was decided to include the unreleased material. Fine; but the total time came to a little over 80 minutes, and in their wisdom the producers lopped a few minutes from the middle of a long piece, 'Mark 1:15', thus utterly destroying the continuity of it.

Having had my favourite track on the album ruined by a brutal edit, I took the CD to the second-hand shop. Had America been re-released as a double CD, I still would have bought it -- and I would still have it in my collection today.

[jkelman]

Not exactly a reissue, rather a fantastic unearthed gem of a show from Oslo, 1971 of the classic Soft Machine line-up of Ratledge, Dean, Hopper and Wyatt. Review here.

[RogerFarbey]

John's review of the Softs album makes it a must-buy. Meanwhile, although it's been quiet on the Vocalion site for quite a while now there is a double CD just released that sounds interesting. Two albums by Martin Drew and Tony Lee respectively, neither of which I have heard or heard of. But the line-up for both looks great....

http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/prod...prod=CDSML8462

[Head Man]

Originally Posted by RogerFarbey

Meanwhile, although it's been quiet on the Vocalion site for quite a while now there is a double CD just released that sounds interesting. Two albums by Martin Drew and Tony Lee respectively, neither of which I have heard or heard of. But the line-up for both looks great....

http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/prod...prod=CDSML8462

Thanks for spotting that Roger, anything with John Taylor on it has to be good. I've just placed my order!