GILLES PETERSON – Impressed With Gilles Peterson (– 064 749-1 / 2LP-2002)

Label: Universal – 064 749-1

Series: Impressed Re-pressed –

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation / Country: UK / Released: 2002

Style: Modern Jazz, Modal, Big Band, Free Improvisation

Compilation / rare, classic & unique modern jazz from Britain 1963-1974.

Compiled By – Gilles Peterson

Executive Producer – Tony Higgins

Mastered By – Peter Dennett

Sleeve Notes – Tony Higgins

Track C2 is a bonus track on this vinyl release.

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 064 749-1 A1

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 064 749-1 B

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 1): 064 750-1 C2

Matrix / Runout (Runout (Etched) Side 2): 064 750-1 D

A1 - Michael Garrick Trio – First Born ....................................................................... 4:12

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

A2 - Joe Harriott & Amancio D'Silva Quartet – Jaipur ............................................... 8:07

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Bryan Spring

          Guitar – Amancio D'Silva

          Tenor Saxophone – Joe Harriott

          Trumpet – Ian Carr

          Vocals – Norma Winstone

A3 - Ronnie Ross – Cleopatra's Needle ................................................................... 5:45

          Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Ross

          Bass – Spike Heatly

          Drums – Ronnie Stephenson

          Piano – Bill Le Sage

          Tenor Saxophone – Art Elefson

          Trumpet – Les Condon

B1 - The Tubby Hayes Quintet – Down In The Village .......................................... 10:06

          Bass – Freddy Logan

          Drums – Allan Ganley

          Piano – Gordon Beck

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Tubby Hayes

          Trumpet – Jimmy Deuchar

B2 - Harry Beckett – Rolli's Tune .............................................................................. 6:19

          Bass – Chris Laurence

          Drums – John Webb

          Piano – John Taylor

          Soprano Saxophone – John Surman

          Tenor Saxophone – Alan Skidmore

          Trumpet – Harry Beckett
          Vibraphone – Frank Ricotti

C1 - The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet – Black Marigolds ................................... 13:32

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone,

          Flute – Don Rendell

          Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ian Carr

C2 - The Mike Westbrook Concert Band – Original Peter ........................................ 8:00

           Alto Saxophone – Mike Osborne

           Bass – Harry Miller

           Drums – Alan Jackson

           Guitar – Chris Spedding

           Piano – Mike Westbrook

           Tenor Saxophone – George Khan

           Trumpet – Paul Rutherford

           Vocals – Norma Winstone

D1 - Graham Collier Sextet – Lullaby For A Lonely Child ....................................... 5:40

           Alto Saxophone – Stan Sulzamn

           Bass – Graham Collier

           Drums – John Marshall

           Piano, Oboe – Karl Jenkins

           Trombone – Nick Evans

D2 - The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet – Dusk Fire ............................................. 12:22

          Bass – Dave Green

          Drums – Trevor Tomkins

          Piano – Michael Garrick

          Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Don Rendell

          Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ian Carr

“Information” as to which tracks are on which of the four sides of vinyl is conspicuously absent. Apparently, information is old fashioned, nowadays you are lucky to know who’s album it is. You have to ask, then why tell us which record number and side number it is? There’s the tell. Information does matter, that white space is a modern conceit. Well, that’s how I read it.

Or can’t.

On first site, this is a strange album; the cover design has a large thumbprint on a white background, with a piece of brown tape stuck on it giving the title and the name Gilles Peterson. I have to confess it meant nothing to me and I wondered whether my editor had sent it to the wrong reviewer! What a pleasant surprise I had, the LP contains the music I grew up with. As an avid visitor to The Marquee, The Flamingo Club and Ronnie’s Old Place in London, what a delight to hear again the bands which were also presented in the Midlands, where I live, by the Late Harry Flick.

I find today’s jazz scene nothing like as stimulating as those times, there were weekly sessions in Coventry and most other cities, where the musicians and bands heard on this record performed to packed enthusiastic audiences.

On the LP we realise just what a golden era the sixties and early seventies was for jazz in the UK. The talents of the musicians on display are astonishing for that time, or should I say, someone who did not know of them, should prepare to be astonished. Michael Garrick has always had a good band and he is a very fine pianist, the likes of Joe Harriott would surely have been an international jazz figure if he had chosen the USA instead of the UK to move to from his native Jamaica.

Ronnie Ross must surely be the finest baritone player the UK has produced and Tubby Hayes, I am amazed at the number of local musicians who are digging around in record shops trying to find anything Tubby recorded. The example on this record, with the superb Jimmy Deuchar on trumpet is one of the best and is worth the price of the record on it’s own!

Don Rendell I count as a friend, even though I have not seen him for a while, his contribution to the UK jazz scene has been immense. He was a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven and has worked tirelessly in the cause of British jazz. In more recent times, as well as performing up and down the country, he has also been teaching in a London University, helping along a new generation of jazz musicians. As Gilles Peterson says, Black marigold as another superb track featuring Don, with trumpet player Ian Carr.

If you are from the era, you will love this record, if you came in later, listen to it and be prepared to be surprised at what you hear, A volume two is mentioned, lets hope it comes out soon.

(Review by Don Mather)

If you find it, buy this album!