Smythe, Pat - New Dawn : Live 1973 CD
SKU
26-BPJ 023
Pat Smythe - piano, Fender Rhodes
Allan Holdsworth - guitar
Daryl Runswick - double bass
John Marshall - drums
Tracks 1 - 4 recorded at Salle Pleyel, Paris, France, 27th July 1973.
Tracks 5 - 8 recorded at Festival de Jazz, Amphithéâtre, Châteauvallon, France, 21st August 1973.
This is a very exciting release that fills in a couple of question marks about how Allan Holdsworth ended up in Soft Machine.
The story is – I believe - that John met Allan at some musician’s union type function and hit it off. But here they are in late July and August, 1973, performing together, and obviously laying the groundwork for Allan to join the Softs in December!
Anyway, this is great stuff and Allan sounds great and totally like Allan, but with a rougher tone. Sound is a little rough but is basically excellent for something that’s been sitting for 50 years, waiting for someone to discover it! Recommended.
“Previously unreleased and captured in 1973, "New Dawn" by the Pat Smythe Quartet offers a rare glimpse into a pivotal moment in jazz fusion history, particularly for fans of guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Recorded across two dates in France, the eight-track album showcases the virtuosic quartet at the intersection of jazz fusion, jazz rock, and Latin American influences, featuring an early and electrifying performance by Holdsworth, a pioneer of the genre.
Pat Smythe (piano/electric piano): A veteran of Joe Harriott's groundbreaking ensemble, Smythe's avant-garde sensibilities underpin the quartet's fusion experiments.
Allan Holdsworth (guitar): This early recording captures Holdsworth on the cusp of his meteoric rise, showcasing his already-astonishing technical brilliance and emotive playing that would later reshape the landscape of fusion guitar.
Daryl Runswick (double bass): Navigating both classical and contemporary realms, Runswick's versatile basslines provide a steady foundation for the ensemble's sonic explorations.
John Marshall (drums): Steeped in the avant-garde tradition, Marshall's percussive mastery, honed in acts such as Graham Collier, Nucleus and Soft Machine, adds rhythmic complexity to the quartet's sound.
"New Dawn: Live 1973" stands as a significant contribution to the history of jazz fusion. It documents a pivotal moment in the Pat Smythe Quartet's trajectory, showcasing their mastery of the genre and their willingness to push its boundaries. As listeners delve into this rediscovered treasure, they gain a deeper understanding of the innovative spirit that defined the group and the broader fusion movement of the 1970s.”
- LabelBritish Progressive Jazz
- UPC5050580820142