Description
“Barbara Thompson writes and performs for the saxophone like no other. With love and unwavering respect, she cherishes the instrument when needed, challenges and pushes it beyond boundaries and shows us that in the right hands, the saxophone really is truly magnificent.”
Fiona Ross, Jazz in Europe
This previously hidden treasure trove of Barbara Thompson recordings amounts to 14 CDs containing 27 complete radio programmes recorded and broadcast by the BBC over a period of 21 years. Many come from Barbara’s own, tapes, preserved by her husband, legendary drummer Jon Hiseman, in their archive at Temple Music, while others have been gathered from private collections across Britain and Europe.
The material ranges from a live concert by the New Jazz Orchestra, introduced by Humphrey Lyttelton, in February 1969 to a set by Paraphernalia, featuring Jon Hiseman and keyboard player Peter Lemer, dating from June 1990. Along the way are such rarities as: a set of compositions by Mike Taylor, broadcast in 1969 as a tribute following his then-recent death; Improvisations for Octet and Strings (1970); Five Movements for Jazz Ensemble (1971), conducted by Neil Ardley and introduced by Ian Carr; several broadcasts from the mid-1970s by Jubiaba; and many sets by Paraphernalia in its various forms including a complete concert broadcast live from Holland Park, mastered to the highest level, with extensive liner notes by celebrated jazz critic, broadcaster and saxophonist Dave Gelly MBE.
TRACKLIST
NEW JAZZ ORCHESTRA
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Club
5 February 1969
Presented by Humphrey Lyttelton
01. Walter L 06:05
02. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 01:44
03. Asma Asmaton 05:51
04. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 00:38
05. Ballad 07:07
06. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 01:44
07. Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe 07:00
Conductor – Neil Ardley
Saxophones – Barbara Thompson, Dave Gelly, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jim Phillip
Flute/Clarinet – Barbara Thompson
Trumpets – Derek Watkins, Henry Lowther, Ian Carr, Denis Andre
Flugelhorn – Ian Carr
Trombones – Robin Gardener, Derek Wadsworth, Mike Gibbs
Tuba – Dick Hart
Bass – Tony Reeves
Vibes – Frank Ricotti
Drums – Jon Hiseman
THE DAVE GELLY SEXTET
BBC 1 Radio Jazz Workshop
The Music Of Mike Taylor, 4 June 1969
Presented by Charles Fox
08. Exactly Like You 02:13
09. Introduction / Charles Fox 01:02
10. Folk Dance No. 2 04:37
11. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:39
12. Jumping off the Sun 02:17
13. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:54
14. To Segovia 08:28
15. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:14
16. Timewind 04:18
17. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:26
18. Brown Thursday 06:46
19. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:53
20. I See You 02:01
21. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:36
22. Night in Tunisia I 03:40
23. Night in Tunisia II 06:38
24. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:12
Tenor saxophone, clarinets – Dave Gelly
Flute, soprano saxophone – Barbara Thompson
Piano – Howard Riley
Vibraphone – Frank Ricotti
Bass, vocals – Jack Bruce
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON / ART THEMEN QUINTET
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Club
1 November 1969
Presented by Humphrey Lyttelton
01. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 00:12
02. Inchworm 06:39
03. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 00:54
04. Stratinum Platinum 11:04
05. Introduction / Humphrey Lyttelton 00:59
06. Mandarin Blues 04:13
07. Closing Announcement / Humphrey Lyttelton 01:11
Saxophones – Barbara Thompson, Art Themen
Piano – Howard Riley
Bass – Ron Rubin
Drums – John Marshall
BARBARA THOMPSON
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
21 September 1970
Presented by Ian Carr
08. Introduction / Ian Carr 00:41
09. Improvisations for Octet and Strings in Three Movements 37:08
String Quartet led by Nicholas Kramer:
1st Violin – Jan Schlapp
2nd Violin – Micah Compodin
Viola – Nicholas Kramer
Cello – Timothy Kramer
Saxophones, flutes – Barbara Thompson, Don Rendell
Trumpets, flugelhorns – Harry Beckett, Kenny Wheeler
Trombone – Derek Wadsworth
Piano – Mike Pine
Bass – Jeff Clyne
Drums – Tony Levin
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
3 May 1971
Presented by Ian Carr
01. Introduction / Ian Carr 01:16
02. Entre Deux Terres – Five Movements for Jazz Ensemble 27:48
03. Closing Announcement / Ian Carr 00:48
String Quartet led by Nicholas Kramer:
1st Violin – John Holloway
2nd Violin – Eleanor Sloane
Viola – Nicholas Kramer
Cello – Timothy Kramer
Conductor – Neil Ardley
Saxophones, flutes – Barbara Thompson, Don Rendell
Flugelhorn – Harry Beckett
Trumpets – Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther
Trombone – Mike Gibbs
Violin – Henry Lowther
Electric/acoustic guitars – Chris Spedding
Piano – Mike Pine
Organ – Howard Shelley
Vibes – Frank Ricotti
Bass – Chris Laurence
Drums – Tony Levin
Percussion – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S JUBIABA
BBC Radio 2 Sounds of Jazz
23 September 1973
Presented by Dave Gelly
4. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:11
5. Encore Ecuador 05:24
6. Introduction / Dave Gelly 01:13
7. Slum Goddess 07:53
8. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:38
9. Morning Lights 04:49
10. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:41
11. Black Macumba 09:59
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Trumpets – Ian Hamer, Tony Fisher
Trombone – Chris Pine
Electric Piano – Peter Lemer
Vibes, percussion – Bill Le Sage
Bass – Dave Markee
Drums – Martin Drew
Percussion – Glynn Thomas
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
1 April 1974
Presented by Miles Kington
12. Aliyah 05:51
13. Introduction / Miles Kington 00:34
14. Candomblé 10:46
Flute, saxophones – Barbara Thompson
Vocals – Pepi Lemer
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Bass – Steve Cook
Drums – Peter Woolf
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
1 April 1974 cont.
Presented by Miles Kington
01. Introduction / Miles Kington 00:30
02. Morning Lights 02:11
03. Three-Legged Jackal 05:25
04. Introduction / Miles Kington 00:13
05. Summer Sounds 02:31
06. Closing Announcement / Miles Kington 00:27
Flute, saxophones – Barbara Thompson
Vocals – Pepi Lemer
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Bass – Steve Cook
Drums – Peter Woolf
BARBARA THOMPSON’S JUBIABA
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Club
1 September 1974
Presented by Peter Clayton
07. Black Macumba 09:32
08. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:52
09. Cuban Thing 06:05
10. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:27
11. Hamerphilia 04:43
12. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:32
13. Cliveden Reach 05:34
14. Closing Announcement / Peter Clayton 00:13
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Trumpets – Ian Hamer, Mo Miller
Trombone – Derek Wadsworth
Piano – Peter Lemer
Vibes, percussion – Bill Le Sage
Bass – Steve Cook
Drums – Martin Drew
Percussion – Glynn Thomas
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
22 September 1975
Presented by Dave Gelly
15. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:28
16. Blithe Spirit 04:12
17. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:24
18. Awakening Dance 05:53
19. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:24
20. Morning Lights 05:21
21. Introduction / Dave Gelly 00:27
22. Contemplation 11:03
Flute, saxophones – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Peter Jacobsen
Bass – Steve Cook
Drums – Dave Sheen
BARBARA THOMPSON’S JUBIABA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
7 August 1977
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Awakening Dream 08:52
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:38
03. Seega 05:41
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:53
05. Helena 06:20
06. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:59
07. The Funky Flunky 08:18
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Trumpets – Ian Hamer, Henry Lowther
Trombone – Derek Wadsworth
Piano – Peter Lemer
Vibes/Percussion – Bill Le Sage
Bass – Roy Babbington
Drums – Trevor Tomkins
Percussion – Glynn Thomas
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
22 August 1977
Presented by Charles Fox
08. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:47
09. Sicilian Sting 07:24
10. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:34
11. Spanish Memories 06:59
12. La Tranquilité d’Ame 05:48
13. Introduction / Charles Fox 01:03
14. Temple Song 07:18
15. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:29
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass, sitar – Roy Babbington
Drums – Harold Fisher
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
2 April 1978
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Study to Be Quiet 05:33
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:58
03. Good Time Mr Sam 05:59
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:46
05. Next Spring 07:08
06. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:52
07. Machismo 08:48
Saxophones, flute (plus electronic accessories) – Barbara Thompson
Piano, keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Roy Babbington
Drums – Harold Fisher
DON RENDELL FIVE WITH BARBARA THOMPSON
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
21 May 1978
Presented by Peter Clayton
08. Twelve-Bar Greens 05:28
09. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:03
10. Summer Echoes 04:11
11. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:05
12. Five Finger Exorcise 05:13
13. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:33
14. Pipes of Peace 03:40
15. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:35
16. Cala Viñas 04:58
Saxophones, flute, clarinet – Don Rendell
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Piano, electric piano – Matt Mathewson
Bass – Paul Bridge
Drums – Trevor Tomkins
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
11 March 1979
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Late Again 05:40
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:05
03. Temple Song 07:13
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:50
05. Stairways 06:38
06. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:15
07. Frankfurt Fayre 08:29
08. Applause 00:25
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards ¬– Colin Dudman
Bass – Roy Babbington
Drums – Gary Husband
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 2 Jazz in Britain
20 August 1979
Presented by Charles Fox
08. Introduction / Charles Fox 01:10
10. Cacion Sin Nombre 09:38
11. The Selfish Giant (A Suite of Five Movements) 15:40
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
30 March 1980
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Scrummage 06:01
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:14
03. Silly Bolero 09:12
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:10
05. From Nowhere 07:37
06. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:42
07. Summer Madness 06:42
Saxophones, flute, recorder – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
26 January 1981
Presented by Charles Fox
08. Introduction / Charles Fox 02:57
09. I Like Autumn 07:30
10. Country Dance 06:39
11. The Adventures of Water 10:25
12. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:28
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Peter Hartley
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’s PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
20 September 1981
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. The Adventures of Water 12:07
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:19
03. Castles in the Air 08:48
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:36
05. City Lights 09:29
06. Closing Announcement / Steve Voce 00:49
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Peter Hartley
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
4 January 1982
Presented by Charles Fox
07. Introduction / Charles Fox 02:27
08. Comet 06:16
09. Straight Down the Line 13:03
10. Little Psalm 06:06
11. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:29
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Pete Hartley
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’s PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
24 October 1982
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Humaira 08:25
02. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:16
03. Psychedelic Sunrise 08:02
04. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:20
05. Song of the East 12:03
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Anthony Aldridge
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
15 November 1982
Presented by Charles Fox
06. Introduction / Charles Fox 02:25
07. The Adventures of Water 11:26
08. Fear of Spiders 06:04
09. Night Watch 09:08
10. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:31
Saxophones, flute, recorder – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Anthony Aldridge
Keyboards – Colin Dudman
Bass – Dill Katz
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Jazz
26 June 1983
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:23
02. The Coconut Hurling Game 05:20
03. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:17
04. Night Watch 07:26
05. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:42
06. Listen to the Plants 08:31
07. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:50
08. Kafferinya 04:29
09. Introduction / Peter Clayton 01:05
10. Fields of Flowers 06:52
Saxophones, flute, recorder – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Anthony Aldridge
Keyboards, harmonica – Bill Worrall
Bass – Dave Ball
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 2 Sounds of Jazz
15 April 1984
Presented by Peter Clayton
11. Rollercoaster 04:58
12. Introduction / Ian Carr 01:04
13. Pure Fantasy 04:18
14. Introduction / Ian Carr 00:34
15. Requiem for Two Pilots 03:55
16. Introduction / Ian Carr 01:00
17. Chapter and Verse 07:19
18. Introduction / Ian Carr 00:40
19. Fields of Flowers 03:45
Saxophones/flute – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Steve Franklin
Violin – Rod Dorothy
Bass – Dave Ball
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Sounds of Jazz
9 September 1985
Recorded Live in Holland Park
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Le Grand Voyage 06:09
02. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 01:08
03. L’Extréme Jonction 08:35
04. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 00:25
05. Voices Behind Locked Doors 07:36
06. Night Watch 08:18
07. Closing Announcement / Peter Clayton 00:21
Flute, saxophones – Barbara Thompson
Violin – Rod Dorothy
Keyboards – Steve Melling
Bass – Dave Ball
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Today
24 November 1986
Presented by Charles Fox
01. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:51
02. Entré les Trous de la Memoire 05:25
03. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:36
04. Elysian Fields 08:54
05. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:34
06. L’Extréme Jonction 03:26
07. Introduction / Charles Fox 00:16
08. Flights of Fancy 07:35
09. Closing Announcement / Charles Fox 00:25
Saxophones, flutes – Barbara Thompson
Guitars – Paul Dunne
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Bass – Dave Ball
Drums, percussion – Ian Thomas
BARBARA THOMPSON’S PARAPHERNALIA
BBC Radio 2 Jazz Parade
21 June 1990
Presented by Peter Clayton
10. Squiffy 08:00
11. Castles in the Air 07:49
12. Cheeky 05:44
13. Closing Announcement / Peter Clayton 00:14
Saxophones, flute – Barbara Thompson
Guitar – Malcolm McFarlane
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Bass – Phil Mulford
Drums – Jon Hiseman
BARBARA THOMPSON QUARTET
BBC Radio 3 Sounds of Jazz
19 February 1989
Recorded at Marlow Football Club, Marlow, Berks
Presented by Peter Clayton
01. Introduction / Peter Clayton 00:16
02. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) 06:00
03. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 00:49
04. Night Watch 06:18
05. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 00:32
06. City Lights 10:13
07. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 00:35
08. Catch 22 07:42
09. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 00:17
10. A Cry From The Heart 07:57
11. Introduction / Barbara Thompson 01:15
12. Frankfurt Fayre 09:33
13. Closing Announcement / Peter Clayton 00:29
Flute, saxophones – Barbara Thompson
Keyboards – Peter Lemer
Bass – Phil Mulford
Drums – Jon Hiseman
Jay.Dee (verified owner) –
Stellar collection of live sessions that seals Barbara’s place in the pantheon of classic Brit jazz-rock/fusion/jazz composers, bandleaders and musicians for those (like me) who never experienced her music first-hand, live on stage.
First ten discs (1969-1982) are uniformly superb, documenting every facet of her career, from third-stream suites (conducted by Neil Ardley himself) through world jazz (Jubiaba nonet) and classic two sax jazz sets (shared with Dave Gelly, Art Themen and Don Rendell) up to top-shelf jazz-rock/fusion of her principal quartet/quintet Paraphernalia.
The last four CDs (1983-90) are somewhat hit-and-miss (in particular mid-80s sessions), but there are quite a few tasty cuts to savour there too, especially that the set-lists kept changing from session to session with hardly any repetition.
Fans of free blowing, fiery soloing or extended jamming may need to readjust their ears, because the tone is principally set by (truly excellent) compositions, which never get lost out of sight during each lineup’s loose but disciplined playing. No self-indulgence, no noodling, no showiness, just pure undiluted essence served with purpose, musicality, wit and spark.
One of the very best live archival boxsets in recent years.