Francis Lockwood in 2 1981 Debbi, 1983 Home Sweet Home

 

Mentioned before recently, in connection with Jean-Pierre Alarcen.  He is, of course, the brother of violinist Didier, posted back here (that post was a popular one-- more than 5k views!)

Information for brother Francis here.  The first album from 1981 is great keyboards-driven instrumental fusion with some ingenious solo pieces, but the second one moves directly into the unwelcome commercial territory. As a result, both samples from the Debbi album, Don't Forget Him:

And the 'piano stylings' of Good Luck, Part 2:

Roche - La Valise de Reve, 1972

 

Here's some adorable SSW stuff from France, typical of the early 1970s, at least there's no chanson styling.  Information here. A one-off for this particular grouping, the main songwriter is Patrick Roche, who didn't release any other LPs.

Oh Viens

Final

Liferaft 1972 USA, by request

 

I love that cover drawing! So evocative.

Discogged here.  Very typical early 1970s jazz-rock, bluesy horn-rock, clearly Chicago-influenced, with a mix of songs and instrumentals.

The Rivet Man, as an example of their songs:

A little hard for me to tolerate the harsh Cocker-like and affected sound of the singer's voice though.

Early Morning Love, the instrumental that closes this show out:

More requests, if anyone has any of them:

https://www.discogs.com/release/35730400-Runaway-Totem-feat-Andromaca-Metaphorm-Tetraphirm

https://www.discogs.com/it/release/3313088-Norbert-Gottschalk-Light-Weight-Sight-A-Voice-In-Jazz

https://www.discogs.com/it/release/2465029-Bunny-Brunel-Lockwood-Jazz-Rock

More requests, if anyone has any of them:

https://www.discogs.com/release/35730400-Runaway-Totem-feat-Andromaca-Metaphorm-Tetraphirm

https://www.discogs.com/it/release/3313088-Norbert-Gottschalk-Light-Weight-Sight-A-Voice-In-Jazz

https://www.discogs.com/it/release/2465029-Bunny-Brunel-Lockwood-Jazz-Rock

First 2 from Minimum Vital [1986 Envol Triangles, 1988 Saisons]

 

I really love these 2 albums, combining RIO with folk music in a really coherent and seamless totality of enjoyment.  I personally am of the opinion that the later albums declined in that they leaned more towards the folky side and abandoned the fiercely creative progressive tendency revealed in these 2 featured.  A very similar band is the Canadian Miriodor, btw, for those who are familiar with it.  Also welcome is the fact that though released in the 1980s there is absolutely zero indication we are in that digital drum-machine decade.

Information here.

French instrumental progressive rock band established in the early 1980s by the Payssan brothers. Their early recordings featured a lot of folk references, which were replaced by more stylish contemporary elements on many later releases. Vocals also featured on some recordings (female and male), and their style has shifted considerably during their 30 year history.

From Envol Triangles, 1986, Ronde:

From Saisons Marines, 1988, A Bien des Egards:

Back to Christian Escoude with Michel Graillier in Libra, FLAC limited time only

 

Michel Graillier was the pianist in the Ivan Jullien band, posted back here.  He is databased here, with bio:

French jazz pianist (born October 18, 1946 in Lens — died February 18, 2003 in Paris)

His career began with violinist Jean Luc Ponty in 1968. He was a member of various groups in France and worked regularly with Chet Baker until 1988. In the 1990s he worked in various ensembles with drummer Simon Goubert.

And he was in the following bands:

:	Alien (34), Chet Baker Quartet, Chet Baker Trio, Claude Cagnasso Big Band, Ivan Jullien Big Band, Jacques & Micheline Pelzer Quartet, Magma (6), Open Sky Unit, Tartempion, The Julie Monley Quartet, The Paris Quartet, Vandertop

On the other hand I've covered Escoude numerous times on these pages, he was with Confluence, but also in these albums here, here with Toots, here, still more, etc.

Here though the music, from 1978, is standard 'contemporary jazz' of the kind we've heard so much of.  Nonetheless, the lovely Skiso, which was written by Escoude, sounds very much like something from one of his albums: