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Artist's
Biographies
Bob
Thiele
Bob Thiele was born in Brooklyn NY
in 1922 and died in 1996. Bob had been dedicated to jazz music from an early
age, having been a radio announcer from 1936-44, and published Jazz Magazine
1939-41. After running Signature records in the 40's, he became A&R
director for Coral and Dot labels in the 50's. He also started up the blues
labels 'Bluesway' and 'Bluestime' After a brief spell as A&R producer at
Roulette, he then joined Impulse as Producer and A&R director. It was here
that he achieved worldwide fame producing many important albums for John
Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Oliver Nelson, Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp and
more. These modal, avant garde and spiritual jazz albums including the
influential 'Love Supreme' by John Coltrane have been highly revered for many
years, formed the platform for him to create 'Flying Dutchman' in 1969. The
same musical values and clarity of sound that he created for Impulse throughout
the 60's were instilled into Flying Dutchman recordings. He was responsible for
producing the debut solo albums from Gil Scott Heron, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gato
Barbieri, and Leon Thomas, and the final album by the legendary Louis
Armstrong. In 1972 he married the singer Teresa Brewer. After Flying Dutchman,
Bob Thiele created the Doctor Jazz label in the early 80's and reunited with
Lonnie Liston Smith, Pharoah Sanders and other artists that he had worked with
before. He subsequently formed Red Baron records and worked on reissues with
Impulse, CBS, and RCA/Bluebird. His autobiography 'What a wonderful world: a
lifetime of recordings' was published in 1995 by Oxford University Press.
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Gil
Scott Heron
Gil Scott Heron
joined Flying Dutchman in 1970 and recorded his first album 'A New Black Poet:
Small Talk at 125th and Lenox'. The album comprised of poetry and music and
included an early raw version of 'The Revolution will not be televised'. His
second album 'Pieces of a Man', the following year, showed what a great artist
Gil was to become, and still ranks as one of his best albums. His poignant
lyrics and powerful delivery backed by a tight band co-led by Brian Jackson,
make these songs special. That album included the best-known version of
'Revolution will not.' 'Lady Day and John Coltrane' ,'Home is where the hatred
is', and the two songs included here 'Save the Children' and 'I think I'll call
it morning'. Gil was to continue to be the social commentator of Black Music
for the next fifteen years, making a string a great albums for Arista (and one
for Strata East), but the essence of the man was developed during his three
album stay at Flying Dutchman.
Discography on Flying Dutchman
'A New black Poet: Small Talk at 125th and Lenox'. 1970
'Pieces of a Man' 1971
'Free Will' 1972
'Revolution will not be televised (compilation) 1974
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Lonnie Liston Smith
Lonnie Liston Smith recorded one of the all time
great jazz funk albums 'Expansions' in 1975, and became one of the most
influential musicians of that genre. His roots however go back more than a
decade before that epic recording, having played keyboards in the bands of
Betty Carter, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Art Blakey, Joe Williams, Pharoah Sanders in
the sixties. From 1969-73 he joined fellow Flying Dutchman artists Leon Thomas,
and Gato Barbieri appearing on their first albums. After a short time with
Miles Davis, he formed the Cosmic Echoes and recorded the first of his five
albums for the label. Lonnie had recorded 'Astral Travelling' with Pharoah
Sanders, but on his own version he creates a new dimension with his fender
rhodes piano. The characteristic multi textures of his keyboards creates a
calming but powerful 'spacey'sound, which is spiritually uplifting. The other
players notably Cecil McBee on bass help create a very rhythmic but serene
sound. On his second album 'Cosmic Funk', Lonnie's brother Donald was
introduced on vocals as illustrated here on 'Beautiful Woman'. His rich tones
and phrasing complement and add a further dimension to Lonnie's music. The
version of Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints' illustrates the rhythmic power of the
Cosmic Echoes. We have deliberately omitted 'Expansions' his (and the label's)
most famous song from this anthology, because it is readily available
elsewhere, but if you don't have it, I would urge you to buy the album, as it
is an absolute classic. Lonnie went on to record two more albums for the label
before it was incorporated into RCA. He then made several albums for Columbia
before re-joining Bob Thiele at Doctor Jazz in the 80's. Lonnie has been a
regular visitor to the UK since that time and his shows are always very well
attended.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Astral Travelling 1973
Cosmic Funk 1974
Expansions 1975
Visions of a New World 1975
Reflections of a golden dream 1976
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Leon
Thomas
Leon Thomas possessed one of the
most unique voices in jazz music. Leon had been the vocalist with Count Basie
in the early sixties, and then had a spell with members of the Underground
Musicians and artists association in Los Angeles. In 1969 he formed a natural
alliance with Pharoah Sanders, and sung 'Prince of Peace' on Pharoah's 'Izipho
Zam' album. He worked with Phaorah on his 'Jewels of Thought', and 'Karma'
albums, before signing with Flying Dutchman. He went on to record six albums
for the label, two of them live, until he joined Santana in 1973. He was voted
top male vocalist in the Downbeat reader's poll for four consecutive years
1970-73. Most of the significant tracks from these albums are included in the
Leon Thomas Anthology, which was our first release. Included on this album are
'Echoes' from his first album 'Spirits known and unknown', which left a lasting
impression on everyone who saw his mesmerising 1998 performance at the London's
Jazz Café; and his collaboration with Louis Armstrong of his most famous
song 'The Creator has a Masterplan (Peace)'. These songs perfectly illustrate
Leon's songwriting abilities and the power and spiritual feel of his music.
Leon died of Leukaemia in 1999, following a concert in New York, two weeks
before he was to have headlined at the Brighton Jazz Bop, which would have
helped him relaunch his career. It was a privilege to know this great artist,
who's music has touched thousands, and who's message is as relevant today as it
was thirty years ago.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Spirits Known and Unknown 1969
Leon Thomas Album 1970
Live in Berlin with Oliver Nelson 1971
Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain (live at Montreux)
1972 (on Mega)
Blues and Soulful Truth 1972
Full Circle 1973
Facets (Compilation) 1974
Anthology (On Soul Brother Records) 1998
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Gato Barbieri
Gato Barbieri was born and raised
in Argentina, and after a brief spell in Brazil, resided in Italy in the early
1960's. After playing with Jim Hall and Ted Curson in Europe he met Don Cherry
in Paris, who took him to New York to play on his 'Complete Communion' album
for Blue Note. In 1967 he made his first album for ESP Records, but was
becoming aware of his need to blend his freedom as a jazz musician with his
musical heritage. He wanted to express his consciousness of the third world,
the international political situation and a world unity of creative musicians.
In many ways Gato was a 'World Musician', before the term was adopted to a
musical genre. In 1969 he joined Flying Dutchman and over the next four years
recorded six albums for the label, starting with the appropriately titled 'The
Third World'. His powerful, impassioned but melodic style of tenor playing,
influenced amongst others by Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp and John Coltrane
blended perfectly with latin percussion and rhythms to create a successful
fusion of Black American and Latin American music. Gato used the cream of up
and coming musicians from both North and South America on his albums, Lonnie
Liston Smith, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Mtume, John Abercrombie, Airto
Moreira and more. Of The tracks featured here 'Carnavalto' is from his second
Flying Dutchman album 'Fenix', whilst 'Maria Domingas' is from the third studio
album 'Under Fire'. The percussion at the intro to 'Maria Domingas' represents
an impression of 'Escola de Samba', the schools of hundreds of drummers who
beat out the carnival rhythms in Bahia. In 1972 Gato shot to worldwide fame by
writing the score to the film 'Last Tango in Paris' for which he won a Grammy
award, also appearing briefly in the movie. After leaving Flying Dutchman he
recorded three albums for Impulse Chapters One. Two and Three, before joining
A&M and enjoying more mainstream success with his 'I Want You'album. After
a lengthy period without recording, he returned with two albums for Columbia in
the late 90's.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
The Third
World 1969
Felix 1971
El Pamper
(live at Montreux) 1972
Under Fire
1973
Bolivia 1973
Yesterdays
1974
El Gato
1975
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Louis
Armstrong
More accomplished writers than
myself have said virtually everything that there is to say about Louis
Armstrong. Suffice to say that he was probably the greatest jazzman of all
time, and was a true ambassador for the music, his country and mankind. The
track featured here is from his final album, recorded for the Flying Dutchman
subsidiary Amsterdam Records in 1970, and is a duet with Leon Thomas, singing
Leon's 'The Creator has a masterplan'. The beauty of the song and the music is
a lasting tribute to both artists, and epitomises the positive attitude of both
men. Leon mentioned when he was in London that recording this song with Louis
was one of the greatest highlights of his career, and the respect that each had
for the other, and their enjoyment of the song and the experience comes clearly
across. Louis died (still smiling) just over a year after recording this song.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Louis Armstrong and Friends 1970 (on
Amsterdam)
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Harold Alexander
Flutist and Soprano Saxophonist
Harold Alexander was brought up in North Carolina, and recorded two albums for
the label in the early 70's. He cites Eric Dolphy, Benny Golson and Elvin Jones
amongst his greatest inspirations. His friend Dolphy helped to teach him to
play the flute and to understand musical values and direction. Golson helped
him develop his musical composition skills, whilst Jones encouraged him to
confirm his creative strength as an artist. Harold was a member of Elvin's Trio
in the late 60's, before signing with Flying Dutchman. The track featured here
'Tite Rope' represents the New York experience and the dues that an artist has
to pay when his convicted for his way of life as a creative individual. It
comes from the album 'Sunshine Man' for which he wrote all six compositions.
This track has been in demand for sometime and has appeared on a couple of
bootleg compilations. After a live album in 1972, Harold left the label and
recorded an album for Atlantic 'Raw Root' in '74. .
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Sunshine Man 1971
Are You ready (live at Montreux)
1972
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Oliver Nelson
Oliver Nelson was a composer,
arranger and saxophone player. His most famous composition 'Stolen Moments' he
recorded for Impulse in the album Blues and the Abstract Truth in 1961. The
same year he recorded Afro American Sketches for Prestige. He recorded five
more albums for Impulse most notably Sound Pieces and A Musical tribute to JFK.
For most of the sixties and early 70's he concentrated on his compositions,
many for Films and TV. He is most known for the music behind 'Six Million
Dollar Man' and 'Ironside', but he also composed the music for four films and
many other TV programmes. In 1969 he led a small group on a US state Dept tour
of West Africa. He also recorded an album with James Brown 'Soul on Top' with
an orchestra covering 'Papas got a brand New Bag' and 'A man with a glass'. He
signed to Flying Dutchman and recorded five albums, the last of which Skull
Sessions is represented here by the Brazilian influenced fusion track 'Baja
Bossa'. He also collaborated on many other albums on the label, with amongst
others Leon Thomas and Johnny Hodges. Oliver died of a heart attack aged 43,
shortly after recording this album and the day after taping music for an
episode of 'Six Million Dollar Man'
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Black Brown and Beautiful 1969
Berlin Dialogue 1971
Swiss Suite (live at
Montreux) 1972
In London with Oily Rags 1974
Skull Session 1975
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Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie
Bernard Purdie was one of the main
session drummers from the mid sixties to the mid seventies, appearing on
hundreds of recording sessions. He is credited with developing the 'Boogaloo'
beat permeating soul music. He recorded with James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Nina
Simone, Isley Brothers, Jimmy Smith, Blood Sweat and Tears, even the Beatles,
but is best known as the studio drummer on numerous albums from Prestige. His
'beats' have been sampled relentlessly by Hip-Hop acts over the past ten or
more years. He was an active drum teacher, having 60 students at one time, when
in the early seventies had started leading his own band. Having already made
one album in 1967 'Soul Drums' for Date, he recorded two albums for Prestige
'Purdie Good' and 'Shaft', and two for Flying Dutchman. 'Whatcha see is Whatcha
get' a cover of the Dramatics hit, comes from an album 'Stand by Me' recorded
for Flying Dutchman subsidiary label Mega in 1971. The album like most of his
albums, contains mainly cover versions of soul and pop hits, but this track
perfectly illustrates why Purdie was such an in demand session drummer. Purdie
is still popular today and is regarded as an icon by many of today drummers and
samplers. He made two albums in the late 90's 'Soul to Jazz', and regularly
performs with his old prestige colleagues on tours.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Stand by me 1972 (on Mega)
Soul Is 1973
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Esther Marrow
Esther Marrow is probably the least known artist
on this compilation, having only made one album for Flying Dutchman, 'Newport
News Virginia', which is one of the rarest and most valuable on the label. Her
rich gospel tinged voice is perfectly illustrated in the emotive 'Mama',
featured here. Her version of 'Chains of love', has been an in demand dancer
for many years, appearing on at least two bootleg compilations, but reissued
here legally for the first time to my knowledge. Esther had moved from Newport
News, Virginia to New York in the mid sixties, having like so many other
soul/jazz singers developed her singing in church. She toured Europe with both
Duke Ellington, and Dr Martin Luther King, and sang with Harry Belafonte before
making this album. Esther made an album for Fantasy in 1972 which includes the
in demand tracks 'Things ain't right' and 'Ghetto', and then disappeared into
obscurity, without getting the recognition that she deserved.
Discography on Flying
Dutchman
Newport News Virginia 1969
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