Remarkable and Impressive Jazz-Rock Originates Beyond Soft Machine, Brand X, Bruford, and Nucleus in the British Scene
In the vibrant and diverse music scene of the 1970s, a group of underrated British jazz rock bands emerged, often overshadowed by more famous names such as Soft Machine, Brand X, and Bruford. Prog magazine highlighted these overlooked groups in 2017, with Back Door, Isotope, and Zzebra forming the core of this underrated British jazz rock scene.
Back Door
Back Door, formed in 1972, offers a volatile concoction of bluesy bebop rock, powered by Colin Hodgkinson’s ferocious bass, Tony Hicks’ powerhouse drumming, and Ron Aspery’s saxophone. Their debut album, simply titled "Back Door," remains influential, with tracks like Slivadiv being sampled later by the Beastie Boys. In 1974, Back Door supported the band ELP.
Isotope
Isotope, with guitarist Gary Boyle, known for his speed and passion rivaling John McLaughlin, and ex-Soft Machine’s Hugh Hopper on fuzz bass, released their surging and formidable fusion jazz rock album Illusion in 1974.
Zzebra
Formed from members of IF and Osibisa, Zzebra is admired by Jeff Beck. Their sound mixes Afro-centric brass with Fender Rhodes-heavy tunes, soulful vocals, and rock riffs, backed by future Gillan bassist John McCoy. Their 1975 album Panic is a dramatic, exciting fusion.
Additional Underrated Groups
Beyond these three groups, other underrated British jazz rock bands of the 1970s include Barbara Thompson's band, known for her lyrical sax and flute on "Paraphernalia," released in 1978. Pepi Lemer's band, Turning Point, released the album "Creatures Of The Night" in 1977, featuring clean, airy melodies, wordless vocals, and soaring soprano sax. John Stevens' Away released their album "Somewhere In Between" in 1976, although details about the band members were not provided in the text.
Steve Hillage was a fan of John Stevens' rock-orientated band, known for having both electric and acoustic bass. The track "Slivadiv" by Back Door was sampled by the Beastie Boys on their 1992 number "Stand Together."
In conclusion, the British jazz rock scene of the 1970s was rich and diverse, with many groups deserving recognition. While some bands, like Soft Machine, Brand X, and Bruford, received their due acclaim, others, such as Back Door, Isotope, Zzebra, Barbara Thompson's band, Pepi Lemer's Turning Point, and John Stevens' Away, remain underrated. As we continue to explore and appreciate the music of this era, it is essential to remember these overlooked groups and the significant contributions they made to the genre.
References:
[1] Prog magazine, 2017. "The Six Underrated Jazz Rock Groups of the 1970s." Accessed on [date].
- The drummer Tony Hicks and bassist Colin Hodgkinson, along with saxophonist Ron Aspery, created a volatile blend of bluesy bebop rock in Back Door, a band that formed in 1972.
- In the same 1970s British jazz rock scene, Isotope emerged, boasting guitarist Gary Boyle, known for his passion that rivaled John McLaughlin, and ex-Soft Machine's Hugh Hopper on fuzz bass.
- Zzebra, formed from members of IF and Osibisa, gained admiration from Jeff Beck with their unique sound that mixed Afro-centric brass with Fender Rhodes-heavy tunes, rock riffs, and soulful vocals.
- Barbara Thompson's band, recognized for her lyrical sax and flute, released the album "Paraphernalia" in 1978, contributing to the diverse British jazz rock scene of the 1970s.
- Pepi Lemer's Turning Point released the album "Creatures Of The Night" in 1977, featuring clean, airy melodies, wordless vocals, and soaring soprano sax.
- John Stevens' Away, a rock-orientated band, had a significant impact on the genre, but the band members' details were not provided in the text.
- Steve Hillage was a fan of John Stevens' band, and the track "Slivadiv" by Back Door was later sampled by the Beastie Boys on their 1992 number "Stand Together."
- As we delve into the music of the 1970s, it's crucial to acknowledge underrated groups like Back Door, Isotope, Zzebra, Barbara Thompson's band, Pepi Lemer's Turning Point, and John Stevens' Away, who made significant contributions to the genre.
