Acrobat Music

Helter Skelter: Live, Rare and Previously Unreleased Recordings
Helter Skelter: Live, Rare and Previously Unreleased Recordings

Joe Harriott
Styles: Jazz
Catalogue Number: ACMCD4392
The legend of saxophonist Joe Harriott is full of stories of isolation and disenfranchisement, received wisdom being that both his music and personality were simply a shade too incendiary to ever fit comfortably within the conventions of the day. While there is no doubt that Harriott's 1960s experiments with free-form improvisation and his ground-breaking fusions with Indian music did set him apart from his colleagues, his was not a talent easily pigeon-holed. Nor was he always as far from the establishment of British Jazz as some histories maintain. Featuring several rare sessions, this new Acrobat CD finds the great altoist in a variety of settings, including a quartet set highlighting his ballad playing in the company of future doyen of British TV and film scores, pianist Max Harris, hitherto only available on a much sought after EP; a session combining a stellar line-up of Melody Maker poll winners – again long out of print; a previously unissued guest appearance with the German Kurt Edelhagen big band and, finally, another truly all-star session under the direction of John Dankworth, which finds Harriott alongside a dazzling list of other notable British jazz leaders including Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, Sandy Brown, Tubby Hayes and Humphrey Lyttelton. Complete with period photographs – several of them never before published - and an extensive booklet essay by award winning saxophonist and author Simon Spillett, this collection is a mandatory listening for all fans of the Golden Age of British Modern Jazz.

Disk 1:
Track Title Artist
1 What Is This Thing Called Love? The Joe Harriott Quartet
2 Don't Blame Me The Joe Harriott Quartet
3 Dicky Bird The Joe Harriott Quartet
4 My Old Flame The Joe Harriott Quartet
5 Top Score The Melody Maker All Stars
6 Mood Indigo The Melody Maker All Stars
7 Autumn In New York Joe Harriott with Kurt Edelhagen & His Orchestra
8 A Night In Tunisia Joe Harriott with Kurt Edelhagen & His Orchestra
9 I Didn't Know What Time It Was Joe Harriott with Kurt Edelhagen & His Orchestra
10 Festival Jump The Daily Mail International Jazz Festival All Stars
11 Milestones The Daily Mail International Jazz Festival All Stars
12 Jackie-ing The Daily Mail International Jazz Festival All Stars
13 Helter Skelter The Daily Mail International Jazz Festival All Stars
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