Local Colour

I first heard this 'keyboard' player in the prog-fusion band of late 70's 'Pierre Moerlen's Gong' (which was the band that 'stayed' after it's founder, Daevid Allen, of Soft Machine fame, left to follow own path). Well, the music on this cd might be a shock for those (like me) who heard him only on that nice but rather bland prog band. Local Colour is another story. The members of the band include legendary sax man John Surman (of countless other sessions and lps/cds but maybe better known for his contribution in McLaughlin's spectacular 'Extrapolation'), drummer Jon Hiseman (of Colosseum, Colosseum II and Barbara Thompson's group), Bassist Tony Reeves (also in many Brit jazz sessions) and Baritone and Soprano sax player Ahmad Khan (the least known to me though i am sure i've seen his name credited before). The record kicks off with 'Ictus' (a Carla Bley comp.) and right away the tone of the whole album is stated: glorious Brit free-ish jazz that reminds of the best there is. Highly recommended to those searching for yet another great one from the late sixties/ early seventies.

a little heavy for me

イギリス人ピアニスト Peter Lemerによる 米のアングラレーベルESPへの録音。録音は1966年、リリースは68年。参加メンバーは他に、John Surman (bs, bcl, ss)、Nisar Ahmad Khan (ts), Tony Reeves (b), John Hiseman (ds)。John Surman の初録音らしく、ハードで流暢なバリトンソロやミステリアスなバスクラが聴かれます。Wikiを参照するとなるほど、リーダーの Lemer は Bill Dixon のワークショップに参加し、Jaki Byard と Paul Bley にピアノを学ぶとあり、Cecil Taylor Unit ばりの洪水のように奔流する曲の中でも、割に淡々と音を紡いでます。これは紋切方にしかならないが、まだ同時代のアメリカのフリージャズの影響を直に感じながらも、（たとえば先に書いたCecil Taylor だったり、いやいやJohn Coltrane の Ascension だったり）しかし、どこかよく造りこまれた感じがあって、それがなんとなく70年台初頭の山下洋輔的に思えてきたりもします。そして最後に暗い佳曲を持ってきて、アルバムを閉めるところにイギリスの曇り空を想起しました。

The talented but little-known British-born pianist Peter Lemer(b. 1942) took lessons with Paul Bley & Jaki Byard and studied classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music.This excellent CD was recorded for ESP in 1966 with Lemer(piano); George(Nisar Ahmed) Khan(tenor sax); John Surman(baritone & soprano sax, bass clarinet); Tony Reeves(bass) & Jon Hiseman(drums).The six powerful tracks include five Lemer compositions and one by Carla Bley.'Local Colour' is an early example of British free jazz and the gripping, exhilarating music from Peter Lemer's Quintet deserves to be more widely known.

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