Fusion reviews – Brand X vs. Percy Jones vs. Gary Windo

Fusion reviews – Brand X vs. Percy Jones vs. Gary Windo
BRAND X
Is There Anything About? / Missing Period / Live At The Roxy, LA
Gonzo Multimedia

It’s feast time for fusion fans as a shedload of rare and unreleased material is thrust upon the world, starting with this triumvirate from fusion legends, Brand X.

Seems that John Goodsall aka Johnny Mandala found a bunch of reel to reel tapes which turned out to be Brand X rehearsal tapes from a time before their debut album. Dusted down and tidied up, “Missing Period” is an interesting insight into their formative days. Of course, time being what it is, we don’t really know what’s what but Goodsall and Jones reckon it features them, along with Atomic Roosters Preston Heyman, Robin Lumley on keyboards and some fella called Phil Collins.

Fast forward to 1979 and we have a soundboard recording from the Roxy in Los Angeles, stunningly titled “Live At The Roxy, LA”. Heyman had gone, Peter Robinson had arrived as a second keyboard player, and what you have is, in places, fantastic. Listen to the band firing on ‘Nuclear Burn’ and be amazed.

Finally we have the contractual obligation that is “Is There Anything About?”, so titled because they’d ran out of material to give to the label. Hence ‘TMIU-ATGA’. They’re making it up as they go along. It’s the least significant of these releases, and one for competists only.

Buy Is There Anything About? / Missing Period / Live At The Roxy, LA

PERCY JONES
Cape Catastrophe
Gonzo Multimedia

Fast forward to the late eighties and bass player Percy Jones is living in New York, where this solo album was recorded.

It’s a proper solo album with Jones doing all the synth programming, as well as playing his marvellous bass. It’s interesting rather than essential, and is most definitely an eighties album.

Chock full of electronic widdly bits, it would have come as a shock to Brand X fans, but as a curio of its time, it’s certainly worth a listen.

Buy at Amazon

GARY WINDO
Steam Radio Tapes / Dogface / Deep Water
Gonzo Multimedia

Meanwhile, the label have also rounded up three albums from the Canterbury Zelig like man that is Gary Windo, the renowned tenor saxophonist.

At the peak of the Canterbury scene creativity, Windo was always there or there abouts whether playing in Robert Wyatts jazz band, or on Hugh Hoppers solo album. As a man who knew everyone, he was able to pull in the likes of Nick Mason from Pink Floyd as well as Julie Tippetts and the aforementioned Hopper and Wyatt when he decided to do his own thing.

That is “Steam Radio Tapes”, and it’s a real treat for anyone looking for some “new” old music. By the late seventies he was in America, as a touring member of NRBQ, as well as gigging with the likes of Todd Rundgren. 1982 saw the arrival of “Dogface” but, sadly, it’s a record lacking in identity.

The late eighties saw him performing with his own band, which featured well known session guitarist Knox Chandler. Even though his improvisational approach to music was well to the fore, with his sax and off kilter vocals keeping him well off the beaten track.

A man who lived for music, and who died too soon. Hear him at his best on “Steam Radio Tapes”.

Buy Steam Radio Tapes / Dogface / Deep Water