BBE present the cult classic Paz Are Back from Brtish Jazz collective Paz.Tracklist: A1 Laying EggsA2 HorrorsA3 A.C./D.C.A4 Where Is Ron'B1 MoonchildB2 I Can't RememberB3 Iron WorksB4 The Everywhere CalypsoB5 Dancing In The Dark Recorded during the summer of 1980 and originally released in 1982 on
Spotlight Records, 'PAZ are Back' was the second (and arguably the finest)
album by the London jazz collective, founded by vibraphonist, composer and
arranger Dick Crouch. Known for their original jazz-funk and latin stylings, the
band held a weekly Sunday residency at The Kensington pub in Holland Park
for over 8 years, becoming a fixture at many London venues throughout the
70's and 80's, most notably Ronnie Scott's.
For PAZ, band leader Dick Crouch assembled a group of the finest jazz
musicians working in London at the time. Piano, keyboard and synth player
Geoff Castle was a mainstay of the band throughout the years, as well as
playing and recording with George Coleman, Ian Dury & Georgie Fame to
name but a few. He also composed the highly original and energetic track
'Moonchild', featured on this album.
Sax and flute player Ray Warleigh enjoyed a successful three decade career
(sadly, he passed away in 2015), playing alongside Dusty Springfield,
Marianne Faithfull, Scott Walker and Stevie Wonder as well as 9 years
with PAZ. The full breadth of his musical dexterity is on display here, from the
gritty alto sax solos featured on 'Laying Eggs' to his eerie home-made
panpipes on 'Horrors'.
Guitarist Ed Speight also worked extensively with Ian Dury and the
Blockheads, as well as performing 'Tubular Bells' with Mike Oldfield on the
QEH and BBC2. Now an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, Ed taught
guitar and keyboard harmony between 1988 and 2010.
Bass player Ron Mathewson is best known for his years spent working with
Ronnie Scott, but he also recorded with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Ben
Webster and Bill Evans (to whom the stunning 'I Can't Remember' is
dedicated). His absence on one album track is noted in its title 'Where is
Ron?', so called because he realised the song required no bassline (as the
original liner notes stated: "this awareness of when not to play is part of his
genius").
Appearing with the band for the first time on 'PAZ are Back', drummer Frank
Gibson was perhaps better known for accompanying Leo Sayer, David Essex
and Dusty Springfield, although jazz was always his first love. Following his
time in the UK and touring the world, Frank returned to his native New
Zealand, where he won three 'Best Jazz Album' awards and performed at the
1990 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Capturing a group of prodigiously talented musicians at the height of their
powers, 'PAZ Are Back' features timeless original compositions from almost all
the band members, as well as a unique cover of 'Everywhere Calypso' by
Sonny Rollins and a truly frenetic, heavily improvised version of jazz standard
'Dancing In The Dark'. A band who remained steadfastly resistant to being
pigeonholed, incorporating a multitude of influences before 'fusion' became
fashionable, PAZ's music stands the test of time magnificently, as evidenced by
the staggering demand for original copies of this album.
Remastered and packaged with the original artwork, BBE are excited to make
the magic of PAZ available to a new generation of fans.
Key selling points:
– Album tracks sampled by Madlib & DJ Vadim among others
– Copies of the original fetching 3 figure sums on Discogs
– Featuring a group of London's all-time finest jazz musicians at the height of their powers
– full press , radio & social media campaign
Spotlight Records, 'PAZ are Back' was the second (and arguably the finest)
album by the London jazz collective, founded by vibraphonist, composer and
arranger Dick Crouch. Known for their original jazz-funk and latin stylings, the
band held a weekly Sunday residency at The Kensington pub in Holland Park
for over 8 years, becoming a fixture at many London venues throughout the
70's and 80's, most notably Ronnie Scott's.
For PAZ, band leader Dick Crouch assembled a group of the finest jazz
musicians working in London at the time. Piano, keyboard and synth player
Geoff Castle was a mainstay of the band throughout the years, as well as
playing and recording with George Coleman, Ian Dury & Georgie Fame to
name but a few. He also composed the highly original and energetic track
'Moonchild', featured on this album.
Sax and flute player Ray Warleigh enjoyed a successful three decade career
(sadly, he passed away in 2015), playing alongside Dusty Springfield,
Marianne Faithfull, Scott Walker and Stevie Wonder as well as 9 years
with PAZ. The full breadth of his musical dexterity is on display here, from the
gritty alto sax solos featured on 'Laying Eggs' to his eerie home-made
panpipes on 'Horrors'.
Guitarist Ed Speight also worked extensively with Ian Dury and the
Blockheads, as well as performing 'Tubular Bells' with Mike Oldfield on the
QEH and BBC2. Now an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, Ed taught
guitar and keyboard harmony between 1988 and 2010.
Bass player Ron Mathewson is best known for his years spent working with
Ronnie Scott, but he also recorded with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Ben
Webster and Bill Evans (to whom the stunning 'I Can't Remember' is
dedicated). His absence on one album track is noted in its title 'Where is
Ron?', so called because he realised the song required no bassline (as the
original liner notes stated: "this awareness of when not to play is part of his
genius").
Appearing with the band for the first time on 'PAZ are Back', drummer Frank
Gibson was perhaps better known for accompanying Leo Sayer, David Essex
and Dusty Springfield, although jazz was always his first love. Following his
time in the UK and touring the world, Frank returned to his native New
Zealand, where he won three 'Best Jazz Album' awards and performed at the
1990 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Capturing a group of prodigiously talented musicians at the height of their
powers, 'PAZ Are Back' features timeless original compositions from almost all
the band members, as well as a unique cover of 'Everywhere Calypso' by
Sonny Rollins and a truly frenetic, heavily improvised version of jazz standard
'Dancing In The Dark'. A band who remained steadfastly resistant to being
pigeonholed, incorporating a multitude of influences before 'fusion' became
fashionable, PAZ's music stands the test of time magnificently, as evidenced by
the staggering demand for original copies of this album.
Remastered and packaged with the original artwork, BBE are excited to make
the magic of PAZ available to a new generation of fans.
Key selling points:
– Album tracks sampled by Madlib & DJ Vadim among others
– Copies of the original fetching 3 figure sums on Discogs
– Featuring a group of London's all-time finest jazz musicians at the height of their powers
– full press , radio & social media campaign
