Label: Deram – 844 853-2
Format: 2 × CD, Compilation / Country: UK / Released: 1998
Originally released in 1969 as two separate LPs: Deram SML 1047 and Deram SML 1048
Style: Big Band, Contemporary Jazz
Recording Dates: 31st March, 1st April, 10th April, 1969.
Engineer – Bill Price
Executive-Producer – Bernard Lee
Leader [Musical Director] – Eddie Harvey, John Surman, Mike Westbrook
Producer – Peter Eden
Amazing jazz masterpiece from 1969, originally released in two parts on Deram and presented here as a double- CD at a single price. Double album featuring Westbrook with Alan Skidmore, David Holdsworth, John Surman and a wild collection of brass-wielding legends. An anti-Vietnam piece that takes a remarkable journey from civilisation to war and its inevitable results. A powerful and evocative piece that features some excellent performances and magnificent solo-ing as the tension mounts...
101. Hooray! . . . 6:24
trumpet solo: Dave Holdsworth
alto solo: Mike Osborne
crowd sounds: Bill Price
102. Landscape . . . 15:25
flute solo: Bernie Living
bass duet: Harry Miller, Barre Phillips
sax duet: John Surman, Mike Osborne
103. Waltz (for Joanna) . . . 5:50
soprano solo: John Surman
104. Landscape (II) . . . 0:39
105. Other World . . . 8:23
trombone solo: Paul Rutherford
106. Marching Song . . . 11:30
tenor saxes: Nisar Ahmad Khan, Alan Skidmore
Composed By – Mike Westbrook
201. Transition . . . 5:12
202. Home . . . 7:35
trombone solo: Malcolm Griffiths
bass duet: Harry Miller, Chris Lawrence
203. Rosie . . . 6:36
trumpet solo: Dave Holdsworth
204. Prelude (Surman) . . . 4:43
woodwind: Bernie Living, Mike Osborne, Alan Skidmore
205. Tension (Surman) . . . 4:33
saxophone duet: John Surman, Alan Skidmore
trombone solo: Malcolm Griffiths
206. Introduction . . . 5:58
207. Ballad . . . 2:26
alto solo: Mike Osborne
208. Conflict . . . 10:44
tuba solo: George Smith
209. Requiem . . . 0:52
210. Tarnished (Surman) . . . 5:56
soprano solo: John Surman
alto solo: Mike Osborne
211. Memorial . . . 2:22
drums solo: Alan Jackson
Mike Westbrook – Piano
Dave Holdsworh – Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Kenny Wheeler – Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Greg Bowen – Trumpet
Tony Fisher – Trumpet
Henry Lowther – Trumpet
Ronnie Hughes – Trumpet
Malcolm Grifiths – Trombone
Paul Rutherford – Trombone
Mike Gibbs – Trombone
Eddie Harvey – Trombone
Tom Bennellick – French Horn
Martin Fry – Tuba
George Smith – Tuba
John Surman – Baritone, Soprano Saxes
Mike Osborne – Alto Sax, Clarinet
Bernie Living – Alto Sax, Clarinet
Alan Skidmore – Tenor Sax, Flute
Nisar Ahmad Khan – Tenor Sax
John Warren – Alto, Baritone Saxes, Flute
Brian Smith – Tenor Sax
Harry Miller – Bass
Barre Phillips – Bass
Chris Lawrence – Bass
Alan Jackson – Drums
John Marshall – Drums
The first time I had a chance to hear this album before about thirty years. I was blown away then and nothing has changed in the meantime. If you like free blowing big band jazz give this a listen. You will not be disappointed.
If you find it, buy this album!