Sweet Smoke were in essence a mystical jazz band that started in the mid sixties in Brooklyn New York. The group first known as Ice Company played their first regular gigs in St Thomas in the Virgin Islands until renamed as the controversial Sweet Smoke of the Happy Plant Pipeful. They eventually opted for the […] Continue reading →

Harvey Mandel (‘Snake’) was plucked straight from the Fillmore dressing room to replace Henry Vestine for the Canned Heat performance, later to perform at the famed ‘Woodstock festival’. Harvey stayed with the band for one year and featured on three albums, the most prolific being the 1970 Future Blues that included guest pianist Dr. John […] Continue reading →

South London conceived the astute talents of a group called Home that were highly underrated when it came to improvisation. Home comprised of ex Four Fables / Sugar Laurie Wisefield (guitar) ex Sugar Cliff Williams (bass), Will Weider violin, ex Man keyboardist Clive John , ex Blue Rondos / Syndicats Mick Stubbs ( guitar, vox) […] Continue reading →

Triana is one part of the Spanish Prog Armada, a legendary Prog band to emerge out of the gifted hills of Spain. The roots of Triana pounded out of the flamenco capital of Seville,where Jesus de la Rosa (keyboards/vocals) found international success with Los Bravos and their single “Black Is Black”. Jesus then recruited Eduardo […] Continue reading →

The Haight is a new book that captures the flavor, tastes and smells of the Hippy experience in San Francisco of the 1960s. A guided tour of the Haight-Ashbury of 1967 lead by a young college bound adventurer mistaken upon his arrival as a mysterious musician whose reputation has preceded him. Taken in as one […] Continue reading →

When Tony Ashton received a telegram from Brian Epstein in 1965, he automatically thought he had been recruited as the keyboardist for the Beatles. Tony Ashton began his career in a North Western English Beat group called The Executives. At the age of fifteen Tony was already an accomplished pianist, who ventured into cover versions […] Continue reading →

Their release Independent Variable is loaded with emotionally drenched bluesy rock and folk tracks. The lead singer, Teri Hitt, has a voice that dares you to listen and then listen again. She beckons you with her smooth vibrato and you begin to fall into the words. Once you are in the middle of it all […] Continue reading →

The colour of Sage , most likely purple with streaks of blue, well that’s if you’ve ever listened to Paul Brett’s Sage. The multi-colored juggled history of Paul Brett most likely started with the group SW4 headed by future Blonde On Blonde Ralph Denyar. Paul would also replace Jimmy Page in Neil Christian & The […] Continue reading →

America – A Horse with no Name The band America comprised of Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek & Gerry Beckley who had a three-year run of top-ten singles and best selling albums. The group first met at an American school in the UK, the sons of Airforce officers stationed overseas. The name America was stimulated by […] Continue reading →

Gwendal the speed of the Elvin Across the channel in France a gifted group called Gwendal ploughed into traditional arrangements with flute and fiddle, with inception in 1972. Gwendal launched their Irish Jig debut in 1974 which at that stage featured the first guitarist J-M Renard with Roger Schaub on bass. The completed French showcase […] Continue reading →