Prior to its initial release on CD and download by Jazz In Britain in 2022, this ultra rare recording was only available commercially on audio cassette on Gordon Beck’s Jaguar label (JS4). This was John Taylor’s third album as leader after the octet line-up of Pause And Think Again (Turtle, 1971) and a trio record Decipher (MPS, 1973). This excellent recording has now received another official re-release on CD and vinyl by Disk Union Japan.
The hour-long session came about as part of a late-night session broadcast on Capital Radio. The radio station, more usually associated with pop music, was obliged to broadcast a number of “live” music hours in order to comply with a Musicians Union needle-time agreement. Aside from two acoustic piano pieces that Taylor recorded in a separate studio, the remainder were “live” recordings at Capital where, since no acoustic piano was available, Taylor used the electric version.
The opener, Interfusion, is an irrepressibly lively affair with a complex ensemble head, and Taylor’s skittish electric piano permeates the piece underpinned by Chris Laurence’s remarkably dexterous and resonant bass lines. The lyrical Fragment is dominated by Kenny Wheeler’s sumptuous soloing. Both versions of The Other One are robust and sinewy with staccato opening themes that border on jazz-rock and are reminiscent in feel of John Surman’s Morning Glory (Island, 1973) on which both Taylor and Laurence played.
There’s a comfortable familiarity to the gorgeous acoustic piano solo piece Happy Landing. But the second acoustic piano piece serves as a two-minute introduction to Room For Improvement which segues into an ensemble piece featuring Stan Sulzmann on lithe, swirling flute. For Chris is a 17-minute tour de force with Laurence, for whom the number is dedicated, soloing extensively throughout, all the while reinforcing just how magnificent a player he is. Chris Pyne is featured on Irene reminding the listener what a brilliant, ebullient trombonist he was. Sadly, only Laurence and Sulzmann are still with us, happily still playing, but this superb record is a timely reminder of the great loss of the four other stellar musicians heard here.
Discography
Interfusion; Fragment; The Other One/1; Happy Landing – Easter Eve; The Other One/2; Room For Improvement; For Chris; Irene (60.20)
Taylor (p, elp); Ken Wheeler (t, flh); Stan Sulzmann (ts, ss, f); Chris Pyne (tb); Chris Laurence (b); Tony Levin (d, pc). London, January 1975.
Rings/Disk Union Japan RINC17/RINR17
