Harry Miller at the BBC 1976-77

There was a request from blogger chum and contributor Miloo 2 to have some of the recordings that Harry Miller made for the BBC up and running again. These were initially uploaded by Ubu on his now dormant blog Ubu Roi here.

However, the first two tracks listed in the blog post have been released on "Full Steam Ahead" on the Reel Recordings label and have consequently been omitted here. Closer examination has revealed that the third track posted is also on the Reel cd, a superb version of "Family Affair" which was also the title tune of the one and only Isipingo lp released in their lifetime, out on the Ogun label, which he founded in 1973 and is now run by his widow Hazel Miller.

I've decided to keep it in here to ensure the narrative radio flow, but also as an enticement for all of you to go get the cd while it's still out there. The only difference from what I can hear is that this recording retains a bit of applause at the beginning and at the end. There is a small discrepancy in that the blog post reports Stan Tracey as being the pianist on the 1976 tracks while the cd says it's Keith Tippett. I'm inclined to go with the latter, so the info file has been corrected.

Finally, there are a couple of 1977 tracks with a different line-up which to my knowledge has not been released in these versions. "Orange Grove" and "Traumatic Experience" appeared on the "In Conference" lp on Ogun which was not with the Isipingo group.

Both of the aforementioned lps were reissued as part of the Harry Miller Collection, a 4 cd box set which is unfortunately out of print. Hopefully it will be reissued to keep Harry Miller's music in circulation. We're doing our little bit here. In any case, do get both the Reel and Cuneiform Isipingo releases. You won't regret it!


Harry Miller Isipingo - 1976

Marc Charig - trumpet
Malcolm Griffiths - trombone
Mike Osborne - alto sax
Keith Tippett - piano
Harry Miller - bass
Louis Moholo - drums

1. Family Affair (9:58)
2. Peter Clayton (0:38)
3. Where Now Then? (9:53)

Harry Miller Quintet - 1977

Trevor Watts - alto & soprano sax
Alan Wakeman - tenor & soprano sax
Berni Holland - guitar
Harry Miller - bass
Louis Moholo - drums

4. Orange Grove (9:22)
5. Charles Fox (0:41)
6. A Traumatic Experience (17:20)
7. Charles Fox outro (0:30)

Sources:
#1-3: BBC broadcast early 1976
#4-7: Jazz in Britain broadcast 24-12-1977(?)

I've edited the track sequencing so that the radio announcements by Peter Clayton and Charles Fox are inserted at the right points.