Gilgamesh

* Red Vinyl edition *Led by visionary keyboardist Alan Gowen, Gilgamesh emerged from the fertile British jazz fusion underground of the 1970s as one of the Canterbury scene's most innovative and uncompromising groups. This special red vinyl edition celebrates a band that, despite their brief existence, left an indelible mark on the progressive music landscape. Formed around the core partnership of Alan Gowen and drummer Mike Travis, Gilgamesh's journey began as an ambitious band project that would eventually stabilize into one of the most sophisticated jazz fusion quartets of the era. The original lineup featured Gowen, Travis, guitarist Rick Morcombe, bassist Jeff Clyne, and saxophonist Alan Wakeman. Following their debut performance in January 1973 – where Richard Sinclair deputized for Clyne – the band evolved into the definitive quartet of Gowen, Travis, guitarist Phil Lee (recommended by Travis), and bassist Neil Murray. This lineup became the driving force behind Gilgamesh's most creative period, performing regular gigs throughout 1973, including two legendary co-headlining performances with Hatfield and the North featuring extended "double-quartet" sets built around Gowen's sprawling 40-minute compositions. The band's evolution continued with bassist Steve Cook replacing Murray in late 1973, while their reputation grew through a series of acclaimed BBC radio sessions for jazz programmes. One notable session featured the quartet augmented by second keyboardist Peter Lemer, showcasing the group's commitment to pushing musical boundaries. After years of building their reputation through live performances and radio sessions, Gilgamesh finally secured a recording contract with Virgin's subsidiary Caroline Records in 1975.

The resulting debut album was recorded during downtime at the Virgin-owned Manor Studios, with Dave Stewart of Hatfield and the North serving as co-producer. The collaboration between Gowen and Stewart proved prophetic – when Hatfield and the North disbanded in mid-1975, Stewart briefly joined Gilgamesh as an auxiliary member, participating in live performances and radio sessions. This partnership would later blossom into the formation of National Health, another Canterbury scene institution. Though Gilgamesh ceased operations in late 1975 following the cancellation of a Scottish tour, their influence on British progressive music cannot be overstated. Alan Gowen's sophisticated compositions and the band's fearless approach to jazz fusion created a template that continues to inspire musicians decades later.