Fusion Orchestra

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Fusion Orchestra
General information
origin London , England
Genre (s) Progressive rock
founding 1969
resolution 1975
Website www.fusionorchestra.com
Last occupation
Dave Bell
Paul Jennings
Alan Murphy
Jill Saward
former members
E-bass, initially also vocals
 Mick Sluman
Electric bass
 Dave Cowell
Electric guitar
 Andy Blamire
Keyboard
 Martin Slavinec aka Martin Lee
Electric bass, vocals
 Dave Wheeler
Electric guitar
 Colin Dawson
Electric guitar
 Stan Land († May 8, 2017)

Fusion Orchestra was a British progressive rock band from London that was formed in 1969 and disbanded in 1975.

history

The band was formed in 1969 by guitarists Colin Dawson and Stan Land, who had known each other since Infant School . Dave Bell, who had previously been in a different, nameless band with both of them, joined the cast as drummer. The group chose the name Fusion Orchestra to illustrate their variety of styles. In the early days, bass and vocals were taken over by another friend of Dawson and Land: Dave Wheeler. Due to other interests, he did not remain permanently in the cast. Eight appearances were made with Wheeler. The band made their first appearance in October 1969 at The Greyhound in Redhill . In November, Mick Sluman was found a permanent member for Wheeler. Sluman was the singer and guitarist of the band This Was, which had previously performed with Fusion Orchestra, which was how they got their attention. He worked with Dawson and Land on songs such as Winter Nights and Outcast in Hell . This was followed by gigs all over London before manager Steve Parker became aware of the band at the Carshalton Carnival in South London in June 1970 . This was followed by appearances in pubs, clubs and colleges . During a gig in the Fulham's Greyhound pub, the band's smoking machine got out of control and filled the rooms with too much smoke, which is why the group was temporarily banned from the house. In September 1970, the group decided to look for a front man and placed an ad in the music magazine Melody Maker . The group took it for granted that they would find a male singer, but eventually the 16-year-old singer Jill Saward was hired. Saward also took over the playing of the flute, keyboard and guitar on occasion. After a week's rehearsal, other appearances followed with a different line-up. They also worked on the songs Desolation Railway Station and Greasy Jean, The Funfair Queen .

In 1971 the band signed a contract with Mother Records . Ashley Kozak worked as a producer for the band. However, since no recordings were made for a year, the group separated again from the label. During that year, bassist Mick Sluman left the cast. In June 1972 Dave Cowell was added as a replacement. The first appearance with a changed line-up then took place on June 23 in Grays , Essex . It was also the 175th appearance for Bell, Dawson and Land and the 140th for Jill Saward. While the group was working on new songs, they toured the UK . The first musical tour, Sonata in Z , whose song material was written by Cowell, Dawson and Saward, began in Botley , the day before Saward's 200th performance, which was held in Weymouth . Two months and 30 performances later, the two songs Have I Left the Gas On? and Talk to the Man in the Sky added to the repertoire.

The band played regularly at the London Marquee Club . Employees from EMI and Acuff-Rose were present at a performance there on February 1, 1973 . In March the group signed a recording deal. Later that year she went to Abbey Road Studios for a month with producer Jeff Jarrett . This resulted in the album Skeleton in Armor , on which the songs Sonata in Z , Have I Left the Gas On? and Talk to the Man in the Sky are included. The band had been fine-tuning the theme song at the beginning of the recording work. Since the release of a single was contractually agreed, the song When My Mama's Not at Home was released. Between the recording and the November 1973 release, Fusion Orchestra toured the UK, the Netherlands and Germany . The band played in Northern Germany at the Scheeßel Rock Festival in front of over 50,000 people.

1973 also showed that Dave Cowell was no longer satisfied in the band. In the early part of the year the group was booked for a charity concert at London's Alexandra Palace . Shortly before the performance, Cowell left the building due to a disagreement, whereupon participation was canceled. After 184 completed appearances, two months and about 14 appearances after the album was released, he played his last appearance in Bristol's Colston Hall on December 14, 1973. This was the band's 358th appearance, the 324th for Jill Saward. Paul Jennings was hired as a replacement. The line-up was also expanded to include keyboardist Martin Slavinec aka Martin Lee. After a month's rehearsal, six of them went on tour, with the first appearance on February 2, 1974 at Doncaster College of Education. Among other things, new material was played: Beginning End , To a Child and Lazoon . After only eleven shows, Slavinec announced that he did not feel comfortable in the band and, after four more appearances, left the band after his last concert on March 29, 1974. Around the same time, EMI decided not to renew the contract with the band. In the middle of 1974 Stan Land decided to leave the group after more than 400 performances, because he had to deal with personal problems at home. Andy Blamire, who had already been a roadie for the group, was brought in as a replacement. Saward, Dawson and Jennings were working on new material so new songs like Make It Easy and Sister Reno were added to the live set.

From July 1974 until the end of the year there were 50 performances on the program. During this time, Dawson had doubts about staying with the band. Disappointed by the management and the lack of a new record deal, he left the band towards the end of the year. His last appearance was on December 22nd at the Marquee Club. It was the 450th appearance for him and Bell. The so-called “Special Christmas Party with Fusion Orchestra, featuring the delectable Jill Saward” also included a guest appearance by Stan Land. In addition to new material, she also played the songs known from the album Talk to the Man in the Sky and Skeleton in Armor as well as older songs such as Summertime and Spinedance . Land made his guest appearance for the song OK Boys, Now's Our Big Chance . The concert was also the last for Andy Blamire, who also decided to leave Fusion Orchestra. To replace Dawson, Alan Murphy was hired, after which the band continued as a quartet with a few new songs in their repertoire. Their first appearance in this lineup held the group on January 31, 1975 at The Nowhere Club in Bicester . After 25 appearances, including four in the Marquee Club, the final appearance followed on May 4, 1975 at Barbarella's in Birmingham . The reason for the dissolution were financial problems as well as musical and personal differences.

Colin Dawson formed Fusion Orchestra 2 some time after the breakup. Dave Cowell joined the band in late 2009 and left about a year later. The band plays the songs of Skeleton in Armor as well as new creations that match the style. In July 2013 the album Casting Shadows was released.

style

The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal described the band's music as "heavy", with the sound of the drums being particularly characteristic. Atavachron from progarchives.com assigned the band's music to progressive rock. The singing is reminiscent of that of the Wilson sisters from Heart . In the music, the group processed influences from jazz fusion , folk music and Celtic music . The music is comparable to that of Jethro Tull , Colosseum , Yes , Greenslade and Babe Ruth . The band is suitable for fans of the early representatives of British progressive rock with influences from symphonic, progressive Canterbury folk and hard rock . According to Achim Breiling from babyblaue-seiten.de , the band had moved strongly in the direction of progressive and jazz rock since Cowell's arrival.

Discography

  • 1973: Skeleton in Armor (Album, EMI )
  • 1973: When My Mama's Not at Home (Single, EMI)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Volume History. fusionorchestra.com, accessed October 23, 2016 .
  2. ↑ Tony Jasper, Derek Oliver: The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal . Facts on File Inc., New York 1983, ISBN 0-8160-1100-1 , pp. 121 .
  3. ^ Atavachron (David): Fusion Orchestra biography. progarchives.com, accessed October 24, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Achim Breiling: Comments. babyblaue-seiten.de, accessed on October 24, 2016 .