Jazz & Improvisation / UK Jazz Scene of the 60s/70s

Decca presents Journeys In Modern Jazz: Britain 1961-1973. The rediscovery of British jazz of the 60s & 70s is a phenomenon of our days. Some time ago this music seemed forgotten, today it is cult and artists like Shabaka Hutchings and Kamasi Washington call it a formative influence on their own music. British Jazz is cool again! Now, under the title British Jazz Explosion, Universal Music is diving deep into its jazz archives and reissuing the most sought-after, hip and collector-market pricele…

** Vinyl audio remastered & cut from the original master tapes by Gearbox Records. 180grm Optimal Pressing. Flip-back LP sleeves on 380g heavy card, front laminated sleeves with 12 x12 insert with new liner note insert + audio download voucher ** Heavyweight Vinyl / U.S.A. Original Glued Prints on Thick Cardboard / handily gluing / Original Black and White Private Press artwork. Originally issued in 1972, Space Walk was the final album recorded for the famed Lansdowne Studios by iconic British s…

Jazz In Britain presents Revisiting Tanglewood 63: The Early Tapes by Mike Gibbs, entirely recorded in two sessions, back in 1970. Brit-jazz composer and arranger Michael Gibbs was born in 1937 in Zimbabwe. Starting in 1959, he studied in Boston at the Berklee College of Music, the Boston Conservatory , Tanglewood and the Lenox School of Music, where he studied with a who's who of contemporary jazz and modern composition: George Russell, Gunther Schuller, Iannis Xenakis, Aaron Copland, Lukas Fos…

Recorded live in-studio, London, on the 26th October 1970. All tracks previously unreleased. Ian Carr, Harold Beckett - trumpet/flugelhorn Brian Smith - tenor/soprano sax Tony Roberts - tenor sax/bass clarinet Karl Jenkins - electric piano/oboe Chris Spedding - guitar Ron Matthewson - bass guitar Jeff Clyne - bass John Marshall - drums Chris Karan - congas Keith Winter - VCS3

** Strictly limited to 500 copies. Digipak with extensive liner notes by Simon Spillett ** The Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet live in session in 1964 playing much of their debut album ‘Shades Of Blue’ including the title track composed by Neil Ardley. Beautifully packaged 180g vinyl. Flip-back sleeve. Strictly limited pressing run of 500 copies worldwide. Liner notes by Simon Spillett. Not nearly celebrated enough, Rendell & Carr were Britain's answer to Miles & Coltrane. With beautiful, introspec…

** 2026 Stock ** BGO presents Shades of Blue and Dusk Fire by The Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet. CD 1: Shades of Blue:  Recorded at London, October 1 & 2, 1964. CD 2: Dusk Fire: Recorded at London, March 16 & 17, 1966. The Don Rendell - Ian Carr quintet, created in 1963, was,a small Brit jazz group that took the country by storm and was well received in Europe and in limited circles in the United States. The band developed a unique sound that came out of hard bop and moved through many different …

** 2021 Stock ** BGO presents Phase III and Live by The Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet. CD 1: Phase III: Recorded in London, February 23, 1967. CD 2: Live: Recorded in London, March 18, 1968. The Don Rendell - Ian Carr quintet, created in 1963, was,a small Brit jazz group that took the country by storm and was well received in Europe and in limited circles in the United States. The band developed a unique sound that came out of hard bop and moved through many different phases, developing a unique …

Ogun presents Coxhill on Ogun by Lol Coxhill. Packaged in a double-gated cardboard sleeve including a short biography of Lol Coxhill, portrait photo and visuals on inner panels. Artwork [Inside Etching] – Claire Coxhill. Artwork [Inside Painting] – Stephen Cochrane. Executive Producer – Hazel Miller. Layout – David Ilic. Mastered By [CD Mastering] – Shawn. Photography [Portrait] – An Italian Friend. Soprano Saxophone, Producer – Lol Coxhill. Visuals: "Diverse" illustration (front) from Victorian…

14 CD set containing 27 complete radio programmes constituting 14 hours of music Over 100 remastered and restored tracks from 1969-1990 together for the first time on one release Featuring contributions from many legends of British jazz including Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman, Don Rendell, Harry Beckett, Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Ian Carr, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Gary Husband, Frank Ricotti and Chris Spedding This previously hidden treasure trove of Barbara Thompson recordings amounts to 14 CDs cont…

If there was one sound guaranteed to shock in British jazz during 1966 it was that of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, the free-improvising collective centred around drummer John Stevens which that year helped establish London’s Little Theatre Club as a stronghold of the ‘new wave’. Although the avant-garde were slow in gaining a toe-hold on British jazz tastes, every so often a grass roots jazz club would take a chance on the new style, such as the night in June 1966 when the SME alighted on Gre…

Official half-speed mastered re-issue of British trumpeter and bandleader Ian Carr's iconic jazz-fusion-rock hybrid ‘Belladonna’ from 1972 Originally released on the Vertigo label, complete with collectable ‘swirl' record centre design, this sought-after jazz-rock-fusion rarity features some of the cream of the UK jazz musicians of the 70’s. Comprised from groups such as Nucleus, Brian Auger's band, Soft Machine, Stan Tracy group, the players included Brian Smith (tenor and soprano saxophones, a…

Basil Kirchin, a forgotten genius of post-war British music, was an influential jazz drummer, creative free-spirit and pioneer of Musique Concrète. Kirchin wrote a lot of albums, Mind on the run is one of the most representative Library record he wrote with fellow John Coleman. A milestone in british avantgarde.

678 Records presents Exit 1971 by Ian Carr's Nucleus. Recorded on friday june 11 1971 in a small club called the Exit in Rotterdam The Netherlands. Amazing and unknown performance from legendary UK jazz prog fusion rockers Nucleus led by trumpet player Ian Carr. A rare set as regular guitarist Chris Spedding who was absent for unknow reasons was not replaced by another guitarist (often Ray Russell) but by a second keyboard player: Hywel Thomas. Ian carr -TrumpetBrian Smith - tenor sax. soprano s…

** In process of Stocking. 2021 Stock ** Cadillac presents Night Time Is The Right Time - 60s' Soho Sounds by Dudu Pukwana & Bob Stuckey. Recorded at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Old Place, Gerrard Street, Soho, 1967/68 - Recordings from the artists' archives. These rare recordings feature the great South African altoist Dudu Pukwana in a combo with some of the key young players on the 60s London scene at the time and playing more like a young Jackie McLean than the free player of the Brotherhoo…

Cadillac presents For Heaven's Sake by The New Stan Tracey Quartet. Recorded in Wembley, 14 September 1995. Engineered and mixed 3 October 1995. The opportunity to present this first recording by the New Stan Tracey Quartet has been an event of great importance to me for a number of reasons. It perfectly fulfils the motivation for the Cadillac Label's creation and continuance since 1973, to wit the documentation and dissemination worldwide of unique moments of creative music making by artists wi…

Cadillac presents The Crane River Jazz Band. John Jack reissued this album in 1996 as part of a projected series in honour of his friend and mentor Doug Dobell. This compilation brings together rare live and studio recordings from the early 1950s and includes extensive notes from Bill Colyer and Pat Hawes and rare photos from the Pat Hawes archive. This is the first time the album has been made digitally available. Instruments [Suitcase], Liner Notes – Bill Colyer, Executive-Producer [Assistant]…

Cadillac presents The Real Ken Colyer by Ken Colyer's Jazzmen featuring Pat Hawes, recorded live at The White Horse, Willesden, London, February 27, 1964. John Jack reissued this album in 2000 as part of a projected reissue of a number of 77 albums in honour of his friend and mentor Doug Dobell. Extra takes were added from the original session acetate. This is the first time the album has been made digitally available. Ken Colyer's life and musical career have been well documented, but many youn…

** In process of Stocking. 2021 Stock ** Cadillac presents The Last Night At The Old Place by Mike Westbrook Concert Band, recorded at Ronnie Scott’s Old Place 25 May 1968. Exactly 50 years on, a unique event featuring the music of the most exciting British jazz group of its time in full swing, released for the first time. Remembering John Jack
 Mike Osborne, Harry Miller, Paul Rutherford. So many good things were contained within the Mike Westbrook Concert Band of 1968 that it’s hard to know wh…

The Seventies should be acknowledged as a landmark period in creative music making in Britain and a potent influence throughout Europe. Whilst not economic paradise there was quite a bit of public funding beginning to come to jazz but the most important support was (and still is) the networks of dedicated Individuals throughout the country that provided unstinting support and platforms for the artists. A prime mover amongst these was the group of people in the Midlands that in 1976 came together…

** In process of Stocking. 2021 Stock ** Cadillac presents The London Concert by David Murray. Remastered from the original 2LP set (released in 1979) and including 2 previously unreleased tracks, Nairobia and Flowers For Albert (and reuniting the two halves of Murray’s Steps…). Recorded live at the Collegiate Theatre, London, England on August 11, 1978. Tenor Saxophone – David Murray, Cornet – Lawrence 'Butch' Morris, Piano – Curtis Clark, Bass – Brian Smith, Drums – Clifford Jarvis. Design [Or…

Newly discovered recording of two British Jazz Legends gets a welcome first release! This double album consists of, for the first time ever on CD, the Stan Tracey solo recording Live at Wigmore Hall, made for Cadillac Records in 1974. The re-release of this set is valuable enough in itself, but added golddust comes in the shape of the additional material - the previously unreleased second half of the evening - a duo recording with alto saxist Mike Osborne. Two of the greats of the English jazz s…

** Strictly limited to 500 copies ** Jazz In Britain presents Mandala by The Mike Taylor Quartet with extensive liner notes by Duncan Heining. Recorded live by Jon Hiiseman on Friday, 8th January 1965 at the Studio Club, Westcliff-On-Sea, Southend. Previously unheard. These are the only known live recordings of the The Mike Taylor Quartet. Mike Taylor – pianoDave Tomlin – soprano saxTony Reeves – bassJon Hiseman – drums

The Many Faces of Harry Beckett is the first publication dedicated to the life and work of the legendary Barbados-born British progressive jazz trumpeter. It fulfils author John Thurlow’s lifelong ambition of creating a book which would pay a fitting tribute to his hero. Harry’s career spanned more than fifty years, encompassing thousands of gigs across the globe, and over 220 currently known recordings. His exquisite playing led to him perform with many of the world’s most famous acts in a myri…

**Strictly limited to 500 copies. Digipak with bonus tracks and liner notes by Richard Williams** Jazz in Britain presents Forget To Remember: Live Vol​.​2 1970 by The Ray Russell Sextet featuring Harry Beckett. Previously unreleased live session recorded at the Aeolian Hall 2, New Bond Street, London on the 2nd January 1970. All tracks from the Ray Russell tape archive.

Original artwork tip-on 700 gram cardboard. Black polylined innersleeve. Insert sheet Q&A with Lloyd Miller by Tony Higgins + original archive pictures on 350 gram Bristol paper. Made with the intention of exploring and experiencing the various musical and cultural perspectives of a territory as vast as that of Persia, "Near And Far East" is a significant historical document that transcends the restrictive concept of territory but rather inhabits a space of absolute time. The album's content is …

Double CD Edition. Previously unreleased. Recorded live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on the 20th October 1975. This is (almost) the complete Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows suite as originally imagined by Neil Ardley, over twice as long as the 'concise' version which appeared on his Gull studio album a year later.  Unfortunately, due to tape issues on the night, only the first two minutes of the closing number of set one were captured. Otherwise, this album is presented exactly as the audience …

Eargong Records present a reissue of John Taylor's Pause, And Think Again, originally released in 1971. Pianist John Taylor's debut album featuring an all-star octet with John Surman (soprano sax), Stan Sulzmann (alto sax), Kenny Wheeler (trumpet), Chris Pyne (trombone), Chris Laurence (bass), Tony Levin (drums), and Norma Winstone (vocals). A great example of the fine art of British jazz in its marvelous original gatefold cover. A precious object from an unrepeatable era. Licensed from Turtle R…

**Beautifully packaged 180g vinyl. Flip-back sleeve. Strictly limited pressing run of 500 copies worldwide. Liner notes by Duncan Heining** Two sessions previously assumed either lost or unrecorded, by Henry Lowther’s and Lyn Dobson’s mid-sixties groups. Considered one of the missing links in the development of British free-form jazz.  The Group Sounds Four session includes Jack Bruce, who contributes an original composition never otherwise recorded. Also features Ron Rubin, Ken McCarthy and Jon…

It’s been four years in the making but is finally now available to pre-order with a release date of early October. A remarkable new and groundbreaking study from Jazz In Britain’s very own Matt Parker.  Subversion Through Jazz examines the beginning of the British progressive jazz (BPJ) movement from 1956 to 1964, attempting to identify and plot the progress of its coming into being. This eight-year period of inception was set against the backdrop of two specifically relevant world events: the f…

**Beautifully packaged 180g vinyl. Flip-back sleeve. Strictly limited pressing run of 300 copies worldwide ** Those already familiar with the output of Jazz In Britain to date will by now have a fair idea of our modus operandi, but for the uninitiated there is no better place to start than with this collection. Whilst none of these recordings could be considered ‘reference’ standard audio, our aim is always to present them in the best possible light, and offer the optimum listening experience to…

Double CD Edition. Recorded at Ronnie Scott's, London, on either the 17th or 18th October 1972. Double CD in digipak with 24 page booklet containing previously unseen images and an extensive essay researched and written by Simon Spillett. From the Ron Mathewson tape archive. This previously unissued live recording features one of the final appearances by the ‘classic’ Tubby Hayes Quartet featuring pianist Mick Pyne, bassist Ron Mathewson (who made the original recording) and drummer Tony Levin, …

Corbett Vs. Dempsey present a reissue of Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio's Three Nails Left, originally released in 1975. One of the all-time great records of improvised music from Europe. Period. Blisteringly hot. Uncompromisingly inventive. Staggeringly beautiful. And insanely rare. Originally issued in the mid '70s on FMP, at its core Three Nails Left features the legendary Schlippenbach Trio -- British saxophonist Evan Parker, and German percussionist Paul Lovens joining the German pianist …

It's hardly surprising that Mike Westbrook reigned supreme in the latter quarter of the 1960s and early 70s. His big band was voted top of that category in the late-lamented Melody Maker British jazz polls for 1970 (and the two years either side of that). In the same year, his third album, Marching Song, recorded a year earlier came third in the category "LP Of The Year" (the number one album that year was John McLaughlin's seminal Extrapolation so there was exceptionally strong competition). Th…

It's hardly surprising that Mike Westbrook reigned supreme in the latter quarter of the 1960s and early 70s. His big band was voted top of that category in the late-lamented Melody Maker British jazz polls for 1970 (and the two years either side of that). In the same year, his third album, Marching Song, recorded a year earlier came third in the category "LP Of The Year" (the number one album that year was John McLaughlin's seminal Extrapolation so there was exceptionally strong competition). Th…

In compiling a modern album of Elizabethan music, London Jazz Four were faced with both technical and interpretive problems. Musically they had to decide how far we could alter the original notation in order to allow ourselves a more modern basis for improvisation, and at the same time preserve the original character of the music. To achieve this, they concentrated on melodies that were strong enough to withstand at times rather violent re-harmonisation, without losing their Elizabethan flavour.…

Born in 1938, and raised in Glendale, California, Lloyd Miller has had one of the most unusual careers in all of jazz. By age 12 he had declared an intent to make his living as a jazz musician, and by high school he had already begun to experiment, shunning swing music's mechanical perfection, and chafing at his parents' desire for him to nurture his talents with formal training. This tumultous relationship with his parents would eventually lead to a stint in a psychatric hospital, before reunit…

Wonderful, previously unreleased recordings by Derek Bailey and his guests at Company Week in 1983. What's remarkable throughout this album is the respect and affection the musicians show for each other, exemplifying the dictionary definition of "company" as "the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment." It starts with "Landslide", a brilliant, spiky, spluttering, twanging reunion of Music Improvisation Company members Evan Pa…

For the 1983 edition of Company Week held at London's I.C.A. in May of that year, guitarist Derek Bailey once more invited a typically eclectic collection of guests. Cellist Ernst Reijseger is a mainstay of Dutch new jazz (ICP Orchestra, Clusone Trio...), American wind virtuoso J.D.Parran a veteran of the Black Artists' Group and Anthony Davis and Anthony Braxton ensembles, while saxophonists Evan Parker and Peter Brötzmann, as titans of European free improvisation, need no introduction. French …

More buried treasure from Company Week 1982: seven previously unissued Epiphanies by lineups involving Derek Bailey, Ursula Oppens, Julie Tippetts, Keith Tippett, Philipp Wachsmann, Fred Frith, George Lewis, Anne LeBaron, Motoharu Yoshizawa and Akio Suzuki.  Fred Frith is a stellar improviser — 1974’s Guitar Solos is still a seminal album of free improv — and he has three opportunities here to showcase his considerable talents. Eleventh is a tour de force of extended technique, with George Lewis…

Derek Bailey’s guests for Company Week at London’s ICA in July 1982 were contemporary classical pianist Ursula Oppens, folk/jazz singer-turned-improviser Julie Tippetts and her partner pianist Keith Tippett, violinist/electronics wizard Philipp Wachsmann, guitarist Fred Frith, trombonist George Lewis, harpist Anne LeBaron, and from Japan free jazz bassist Motoharu Yoshizawa and sound artist Akio Suzuki.  Altogether they performed the stunning extended improvisation Epiphany. In different, more i…