The reactivated Cadillac label continues its collection of releases from its British jazz archive with this fascinating, and certainly joyous, recording from March 1976. The horns-and-rhythm quintet Pleasure delved deep into the religious jazz, funky rhythms and Latin grooves that had been being labored on contemporaneously in New York. Sturdy musical personalities, brash dedication and London’s melting pot of free jazz, worldwide connections and UK blues and soul added a distinctly British slant.
This self-titled album begins with the declamatory brass of “Martini Candy” supported by a bustle of again beats and testy double bass, and continues with the religious “Koko-v-Dank” unfolding over a two-chord vamp. “Do You Know the Means” is soulful, “Spirals” ups the tempo and “PM” is intense. Chris Francis on alto sax, Jim Dvorak — an American who relocated to the UK to flee the Vietnam draft — on trumpet and pianist Frank Roberts all comply with the shape and play to the sting.
Every composition delivers harmonic shifts and adjustments of temper, drawing the listener in. Roberts’ rampage of dancing motifs on “Hidden Spirits”, Dvorak crusing over the quick strolling bass of “Jak’s Travels” and Francis capturing resilience and loss on “Tribute” all stand out.
However it’s the power of the rhythm part’s taking part in that balances the quintet and marks the band’s sound. Drummer Keith Bailey’s rhythmic self-discipline and fiery edge push soloists to larger heights, and South-African bassist Ernest Mothle is an underpinning rock with a full-bodied sound.
Two tracks that had been edited for the unique vinyl launch are introduced in full right here. The addition of the beforehand unreleased “You” and three different takes full the session with no lack of kind. Pleasure had been beating a brand new path on the time of the recording and their album sounds remarkably contemporary right now. The one-day studio session was subsidised by the Better London Arts Affiliation, making the reissue a testomony to grassroots funding in addition to an important working band.
★★★★☆
‘Joy’ is launched by
Author: ” — www.ft.com ”