Alan SKIDMORE Quintet - Once Upon A Time 1970

Alan SKIDMORE Quintet - Once Upon A Time 1970
SDN 11

Jazz

Spiralling, soaring work from the Alan Skidmore Quintet -- a group led by one of the greatest British tenor talents at the end of the 60s! Skidmore's name turns up often in some of the larger ensemble sessions from the period, but this album's one of his few smaller group outings -- and it's a real treasure that we'd rank with the most free-thinking jazz on Deram as the time. Skidmore's joined in the group by an all-star lineup that includes Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn, John Taylor on piano, Harry Miller on bass, and Tony Oxley on drums -- and all players are working here in a cohesive, vibrant style that's quite different than some of the freer, more "out" work of later years. There's a real love of color and tone on the session -- and the tunes unfold with a soaring quality that's really tremendous -- one that's rarely too free, and which explores the shades and hues that were showing up in some of the best British jazz of the time. For one point of reference, we might compare the record to the depth of the best Michael Garrick sessions of the late 60s -- but there's also a bit more straightforward quality here that we really love. Titles include "Old San Juan", "Once Upon A Time", "The Yolk", "Free For Al", and "Image". 
From Dusty Groove.
**
Once Upon a Time is one of an amazing 20 albums tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore appeared on in 1969 and 1970 (including several veritable classics of British jazz, Mike Gibbs' Tanglewood 63, John Surman's How Many Clouds Can You See?, Stan Tracey's Seven Ages of Man, and Graham Collier's Songs for My Father). The lineup of this particular quintet, which represented Britain at the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival, is truly stellar: in addition to Skidmore there's Canadian trumpeter/flügelhorn virtuoso Kenny Wheeler, pianist John Taylor, bassist Harry Miller, and percussionist Tony Oxley. Two of the six tracks are credited to John Surman, and one, the sultry "Old San Juan," is penned by John Warren, Surman's collaborator on Tales of the Algonquin, another classic release from the same year. If the Surman material reveals the discreet influence of the late-'60s Miles Davis quintet, Oxley's "Majaera" begins to explore the more dangerous territory of free playing he would return to the following year on his Four Compositions for Sextet. Elsewhere, John Taylor's "The Yolk" is a boisterous, brilliant piece of hard bop, and the last three tracks, segued together as a suite, explore a similarly wide range of styles. So much so that Skidmore aficionados tend to prefer the greater coherence of the following year's septet release on Philips, TCB, but Once Upon a Time remains one of the landmark albums of British jazz.
By Dan Warburton.
**
Bass- Harry Miller
Drums- Tony Oxley
Flugelhorn- Kenny Wheeler
Piano- John Taylor  
Tenor Sax- Alan Skidmore
**
A1. Once Upon A Time  
A2. Majaera  
A3. The Yolk  
B1. Old San Juan  
B2. Free For Al  
B3. Image  
**

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A.Skidmore, T.Oxley, Ali Haurand - SOH 1979

A.Skidmore, T.Oxley, Ali Haurand - SOH 1979
EGO 4011

Jazz

This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience.
Manchester Evening News.
**
There are far too few Alan Skidmore recordings available. This one, long since unobtainable, is one of the best I've heard. For most of the tracks, Skidmore is in unashameably Coltrane mode, and nobody does it better than him. Curiously, as a contrast, the track Trio nr. 10 sounds more like Evan Parker. I have my doubts about that track, but it's only short, and the rest of the tracks more than make up for it.
**
Skidmore Alan- Tenor, Soprano Sax
Haurand Ali- Bass
Oxley Tony- Drums, Percussion.
**
A1. One, Two, Free 20:20
B1. Das Ist Alice 9.55
B2. Trio nr. 10 3:46
B3. Lost in W.G. 8:24
**

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SOS (A.Skidmore, M.Osborne, J.Surman) - FM Broadcast 1975

SOS (A.Skidmore, M.Osborne, J.Surman) - FM Broadcast 1975
Thx To *Tantris*

Jazz

This British saxophone trio was highly-acclaimed, but quite short-lived. It was formed by arguably the three greatest UK reedsmen of the time. They'd all played together for several years in different formats like Mike Gibbs band and John Surman's own big band.
The image above is the cover from their only commercial release, which was reissued on CD a couple of years ago by Ogun records and is still available direct from them.
The music is a curious blend of free improvisation, reels and jigs and post bebop. It makes use of Surman's pre-recorded synthesizer loops, which I'm not keen on, but which was probably quite revolutionary in jazz in those days. Certainly Surman went on to use these techniques in solo recordings on the ECM label. For me, though, the highlights of their music is the alto playing of Mike Osborne, who's career was tragically greatly shortened by mental illness, up to his death last year.
This recording is comprised of two radio broadcasts transmitted by the BBC in 1975.
**
Jazz in Britain
Broadcast 29-1-1975
BBC Sessions

John Surman- Bs, Ss, Bcl, Synthesizer, E-Piano
Mike Osborne- As
Alan Skidmore- Ts, Ss.
*
01. Announcer 1.17
02. Looking for the Next One 14.28
03. Announcer 0.52
04. Rashied 9.00
05. Announcer 0.50
06. News 3.04
07. Announcer 0.28
*
Jazz Club
Broadcast 14.9.1975
John Surman bs, ss, bcl, synthesizer, e-piano
Mike Osborne as
Alan Skidmore ts, ss, ,dr
Tony Levin dr
*
08. Country Dance 7.49
09. Announcer 0.54
10. QE Hall 14.23
11. Announcer 0.18
12. The Irish 4.49
**

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Alan SKIDMORE - Alan Skidmore's Ubizo, Leipzig 2007

Alan SKIDMORE - Alan Skidmore's Ubizo, Leipzig 2007
All The Credits Go To *UBU*
(Alan Skidmore's Ubizo
31. Leipziger Jazztage
Leipzig (Germany),
Moritzbastei, October 3, 2007)

Jazz

This is the first supplement (at least one more to come) to my South Africal posts. Alan Skidmore, the sax player known from S.O.S. and other projects, was the first British jazz musician to visit post-Apartheid South Africa in the nineties. This led to the 1999 album "The Call", with Amampondo, a Cape Town group of drummers. Skidmore's Ubizo project continues in the same vein. "Ubizo" means "the calling" (as in "vocation") and adds German trumpet player Ingolf Burkhardt to the mix. They released an album in 2003 and were touring again in recent years. This is a long and fine recording I got from dime recently and find worthy to spread further, beyond the dime community.
**
Alan Skidmore- Tenor Sax
Ingolf Burkhardt- Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Steve Melling- Piano
Colin Towns- Keyboards
Mick Coady- Bass
Mike Paxton- Drums
Joe Legwabe- African Percussion
Jjkj Kanda- African Percussion
Musa Mboob- African Percussion
**
01. Band Intros AS, Sweet S.A. (14:07)
02. Evening Song, Salam Salam  (14:14)
03. Bridges Of Sand  10:22 >
04. Coat Of Many Summers  13:01
05. Dumisani  (9:22)
06. Bamboo Harmon  (7:40)
07. Africa, After The Rain  18:07
**
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Alan SKIDMORE and Third Eye - Live Cologne 1978

Alan SKIDMORE and Third Eye - Live Cologne 1978
It's a radio broadcast of Alan Skidmore's short-lived association with the group Third Eye.
Cologne 12th January 1978

Jazz

Alan Skidmore (tenor sax)
Alan Skidmore was born in London in 1942. He received his musical education at the London Conservatory. When but a young man he already played with John Mayall, Alexis Korner, Georgie Fame, the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra, the Stan Tracy Band and Ronnie Scott. Then in later years with Tubby Hayes, John Surman, Chris MacGregor's "Brotherhood of Breath", the George Grunz "Concert Band", Eberhard Weber, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, Weather Report, Dave Holland and the BBC Big Band in London. He made recordings with Herbie Hancock, Mike Gibbs, Mike Westbrook and founded SOS with John Surman. As a guest soloist he played in Hamburg with the NDR Big Band and from 1981 to 1984 with the WDR Big Band. Tours with Charlie Watts took in the US and Europe. He has performed with Colin Towns Mask Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. When he represented England in 1969 with his quintet at the International Jazz Festival in Montreux, they won the media’s first prize and Alan was rated best soloist. For many years the tenor saxophone prize awarded by the English Jazz Polls of "Melody Maker" has gone to him. He has made vinyl and CD recordings with Chick Corea, George Grunz, SOH, the European Jazz Quintet, Third Eye, Georgie Fame, the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE, as well as with his own quartet.

Gerd Dudek (tenor & soprano sax)
Born in 1938 in Gross-Döbern (now in Poland) Gerd Dudek, after completing his studies, was a member of the famous Kurt Edelhagen Big Band from 1960 to 1964. Whereupon he joined the Manfred Schoof Quintet. As a member of the Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet and the German All Stars he undertook several tours of Asia and South America. Gerd has also played in a quartet with Alan Skidmore and Adelhard Roidinger. He was one of the founding members of the Manfred Schoof Big Band as well as of both Alexander von Schlippenbach´s "Globe Unity" and "Berlin Contemporary Orchestra". What is more, Gerd Dudek was also among the founding members of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE in 1976. Besides many other productions with various groups and soloists, he made a recording in Japan in 1961. In the 1960s he went on tour with George Russell and Don Cherry. He has worked extensively in trios, quartets and duets with Ali Haurand. With the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE and smaller formations he has recorded more than 70 records and CDs.

Rob van den Broeck (piano)
Rob van den Broeck was born in Hilversum, the Netherlands, in 1940. In 1961 Rob began playing with various Dutch groups, such as, among others, Dick Vennik´s group and the Chris Hinze Combination (with Gary Brown on drums and John Lee on bass). He has recorded with Billy Higgins, Clint Houston, Joe Farell, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Skidmore, Ali Haurand and Gerd Dudek. For many years now he has headed the Band "FREE FAIR", which is famous both as a combo and as a quartet plus four trombones and four trumpets. Rob has made several CDs for the Timeless label, among them with Joe Farell, Dexter Gordon, Billy Higgins, Clint Houston, Louis Hayes and Ben Webster. He has, moreover, recorded several trio albums with the English drummer Tony Levin. He has worked together with Ali Haurand in the group "THIRD EYE" since 1972, making recordings with that group, with Alan Skidmore and Wilton Gaynair. Rob has been a member of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE since 1981 and also since 1982 of its Quartet & Trio formation. Thirteen recordings chronicle his intense work with Gerd Dudek and Ali Haurand, among them: "Dedication" (1982), "Relation" (1984), "Interchange" with E.L.Petrowsky (1985) and "Live" (1987); "Pulque", "After All“ and "Crossing Level" between 1990 and 1998 (also published by Konnex Records, Berlin). Tours have taken him as far afield as Canada and Australia.

Ali Haurand (bass)
Ali Haurand was born in Viersen, Germany, in 1943. Right after finishing his studies at the Folkwang School in Essen he founded his first trio. Since 1967 he has been a member of the George Maycock Trio. In 1969 Ali with the Dutch pianist Jan Huydts founded the group "THIRD EYE". Ali has toured with Philly Joe Joens, Ben Webster, Don Byas, Bobby Jones, John Handy, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, Jan Akkerman, Joachim Kühn, John Taylor, Tony Coe, Eje Thelin, Joe Albany and Enrico Rava. Together with Gerd Dudek, Alan Skidmore, Leszek Zadlo and Pierre Courbois he founded the "EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE" in 1976. From 1978 to 1984 he played with SOH, a trio that included Tony Oxley and Alan Skidmore. In 1982 with Rob van den Broeck and Gerd Dudek he formed "THE QUARTET". As leader of the "EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE" he has been on tour in Australia, Canada, Russia, Africa and very nearly all European countries. He is also a member of Pantomime & Jazz, which includes the mime Milan Sládek from Slovakia and the Czech flute player Jiri Stivin. With Jiri Stivin he has been collaborating in a duet for a long time now. Tours and festivals have taken him all over Europe, America and even further afield; notable festivals include: Moers, Berlin, Warsaw, London, Paris, Den Haag, Vancouver, Toronto, Barcelona, Prague, Burghausen, Munich, Oslo, Sydney, Melbourne, Leverkusen, to name but a few. Since 1998 he has been playing in a trio with the alto saxophone player Charlie Mariano and the drummer Daniel Humair. The 10th, 12th, 20th and 25th anniversary concerts of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE were recorded for German Television and broadcast by the WDR station in Cologne, West Germany’s leading broadcaster. Ali won the European Jazz Poll of the "Jazz Forum Magazine" in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, with the European Jazz Ensemble, with SOH, or as a bass player. Since 1991 he has also been doing freelance work for the WDR TV station and has acted as co-presenter of the two TV series "Round Midnight" and "Fullhouse". The more than 50 records and CDs to his name so far - as well as his many concert tours – have made him an internationally recognized artist. Thus in 2005 by being made a "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" Ali Haurand received the French Republic’s highest award for cultural achievements.

Tony Levin (drums)
Tony Levin was born in Shropshire in the UK in 1940. He has been an ardent student of drums and jazz since the age of 13 and has been working with professional musicians since the age of 17. An artist of renown since the 1960s for his work with world class musicians, his tours throughout Britain and not least his masterful performance at "Ronnie Scott´s" in London, Tony has played with such people as - to name but a few - Al Cohn, Zoot Zims, Steve Lacey, Hank Mobley, Toots Thiedemanns, Dave Holland, Harry "Sweet" Edison, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Art Farmer, Red Rodney, Johnny Griffin, Annie Ross, John Hendricks, Gary Burton and Joe Henderson. Tony was a regular member of many famous British groups (records of all of which are available): from 1965 to 1969 of the quartet of the legendary saxophone player Tubby Hayes, which besides Tony included Mick Pyne (piano) and Ron Mathewson (bass), in 1969 of the Alan Skidmore Quintet and from 1973 until 1979 of the John Taylor Quartet and Kenny Wheeler Sextet, besides being a member of a quartet with Stan Sulzmann, Chris Pyne and Chris Laurence. He formed a duet with John Surman – which was recorded at the Moers New Jazz Festival for Moers Music in 1976. He became a member of the international group Third Eye with Ali Haurand, Wilton Gaynair and Alan Skidmore in 1979. He has also recorded with Rob van den Broeck ("Heavy Duty", Timeless Records, 1982) as well as with Keith Tippett´s Septet (1984) - which also included Larry Stabbins, Elton Dean, Paul Rogers, Nic Evans and Mark Charig. He has performed with Andy Sheppard, Evan Parker and Paul Dunmall. Tony has been on many tours throughout Europe, with, for instance, the group Nucleus, and has appeared at numerous festivals. He has been a member of the EUROPEAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE since 1988. Furthermore, he is also with Keith Tippett, Paul Rogers and Paul Dunmall a member of the group "Mujician".
**
Alan Skidmore- Tenor,Saproano Sax
Gerd Dudek- Tenor,Saproano Sax
Rob van den Broeck- Piano
Ali Haurand- Bass
Frank Köllges- Drum
**
01.K.A. Blues 14:29
02.Rhum 18:38
03.The Healer 20:03
**
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Alan SKIDMORE Quartet - East To West 1992

Alan SKIDMORE Quartet - East To West 1992
Label: Miles Music

Jazz

On this CD Alan Skidmore plays with two trios. On a recording made in Hong Kong he joins Stan and Clark Tracey with Roy Babbington, and at Ronnie Scott's in London he plays with Steve Melling, Mick Hutton and Bryan Spring. This is a CD full of energy and undisputed talent. From the classic 'Funky Day in Tiger Bay' to an outstanding version of 'Mr P.C.' the musicians on these recordings give their audiences an unforgettable experience. "If ever a jazz musician personified the ability to be carried through good times and hard times by the love of the job, it's Alan Skidmore...(this is his) love of the job at its most selfless. It's Skid doing what he does best, and that adds up to a hell of a lot of music."
By John Fordham.
**
After three decades of liaisons with legends such as Herbie Hancock and Georgie Fame, Skidmore only really needs his smouldering saxophone to get us drooling. As usual he massages and then assaults our ears with the kind of heady, devotional jazz that gets even the non-smokers in the audience gagging for a cigarette. His set comprises music written by John Coltrane and the band is obviously at home evoking his slow-burning dreamscapes and his fiery crescendos. As they strike up with Resolution you would swear that Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison and McCoy Tyner are in the room, so authentic are those swelling sheets of sound.
By James Griffiths, The Guardian
**
Alan Skidmore's playing in After the Rain is a miracle of sustained poise, inspiration and feeling. Skidmore's huge and mellow tenor sax sound in the lower register and his control of the quiet singing tone in the often extreme upper register are juxtaposed to great effect on his superb rendering of melody on 'Too Young to Go Steady' and in his ensuing solo. His love of each piece shines through and while his main improvised phrases seem passionately sculpted, his quiet asides or afterthoughts have an extraordinary potency.
By Ian Carr, BBC Music Magazine.
**
Alan Skidmore- Tenor Sax
Bryan Spring- Drums*
Steve Melling- Piano*
Mick Hutton- Bass*
Also Futuring;
Stan Tracey- Piano
Roy Bobbington- Bass
Clark Tracey- Drums
**
01. Funky Day In Tiger Bay  13.14
02. Too Young To Go Steady  8.25
03. Green Chimneys  13.10
04. Crescent  11.06
05. Wise One  11.38
06. Mr. P.C.  9.56
**
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06.Mr Pc
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Alan SKIDMORE Quartet - Impressions of John Coltrane 2007 (REPOST)

Alan SKIDMORE Quartet - Impressions of John Coltrane 2007 (REPOST)
Label: Itm

Jazz

ALAN SKIDMORE QUARTET With MIKE GORMAN/AIDAN O'DONNELL/IAN PALMER - Impressions Of John Coltrane: Live At The Fleece [2 CD set] (ITM 920006; Germany) I suppose I've never been huge on saxophonist Alan Skidmore's output, but "Impressions of John Coltrane" is a different matter altogether. Instead of playing it safe, Skidmore is roughing up a storm on the 2 CD set. With a tight band made up of pianist Mike Gorman, bassist Aidan O'Donnell and percussionist Ian Palmer, the leader looks to Coltrane's music as his main inspiration. Don't mistake this for another salute to Coltrane. In fact only three of the eight pieces are Coltrane standards, with the rest being split between Duke Ellington ["Take the Coltrane"], George Gershwin ["But Not For Me" and "Summertime"] and others. The quartet's take of "Impressions" is pure fury and bliss. In just under 17 minutes, they tear the original apart. As Skidmore plays unashamed walls of thick tenor clusters, Gorman lets rip a slew of piano notes, while the rhythm section keeps a tight pulse on the proceedings. Warm in its not-so-gentle persuasive power and fresh with fervent energy, this live record is worth every single second of your attention and then some!
BY Tom Sekowski.
**
Alan Skidmore- (Tenor Sax);
Mike Gorman- (Piano);
Aidan O’Donnell- (Bass);
Ian Palmer- (Drums).
**
CD1
01. But not for me 11:44
02. Lonnies lament 15:24
03. Say it over and over again 11:57
04. Impressions 16:18
*
CD2
01. Summertime 14:41
02. Resolution 11:12
03. Weaver of dreams 12:53
04. Take the coltrane 7:41
**
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