Bob Downes new archival release

RogerF · December 9, 2012

Bob Downes Mixed Bag just released on the Openian label is a retrospective mélange of tracks charting this multi-instrumentalist’s career, back to 1971 although his actual career spans a bit further back than that. There are some vital tracks here for anyone seriously interested in Downes’ idiosyncratic music and a considerably varied range of styles. Solo tracks include him performing live variously on flute, contrabass flute, alto flute, tenor sax, bamboophone and wind chimes. Then there is Brotherhood of Breath-esque Downes Wind Band, a 65 piece orchestra performing a lively and engaging “Jamican Jump Up”. Some essential archival tracks follow including Lola performed by Downes on flute and vocals, Brian Godding on guitar, Barry Guy on bass and John Stevens on drums recorded in 1977. Going East sees Downes accompanied by the great Ray Russell on guitar plus Daryl Runswick on bass, Alan Rushton on drums and an unnamed horn section recorded in 1974. The next track, another live one, with a brilliantly memorable repeated riff (Seashore) with the same line up substitutes Runswick with Harry Miller dating back to 1974. Following further solo tracks, the CD concludes with a haunting piece recorded in 1971 with Downes on feedback flute plus Laurie Baker on EMS VCS3 synthesizer, Barry Guy on bass and Derek Hogg on drums.

Having recently celebrated his 75^th birthday this gifted multi-instrumentalist has produced some excellent work over the course of his career and was a mainstay of various British jazz bands in the 1960s before he moved permanently to Germany. But he still plays and sometimes, albeit rarely performs in public. A “free gift” (short at around 10 minutes) CD which is included with Mixed Bag, and entitled Requiem was performed by Downes earlier this year and is dedicated to Faruq Z. Bey an American saxophonist who died in June 2012. Four tracks here see Downes performing on tenor sax and on the final track on bass flute. This extra CD is witness to Downes’ talents being in no way diminished by age (what is 75 now anyway?) and is a fine addition to an exceptional archive set.

More here:

http://www.bobdownesmusic.de/