Volume 1 – Memories (Gonzo Multimedia, 2014)
Volume 1 – Memories is the first installment in a collection of 10 CDs by famed British jazz-rock musician, Hugh Hopper, who passed away in 2009. Memories consists of a selection of rare tracks from across his career, spanning several decades.
The album opens with a Soft Machine demo from 1969 titled ‘Memories’ featuring Hugh Hopper on bass and acoustic guitar; Mike Ratledge on piano and organ; and Robert Wyatt on drums and vocals.
The next piece is much more modern, better recorded and captivating. It’s an instrumental piece titled ‘Was A Friend’ recorded in 2004 in St. Jean-aux-Bois, France withFranglo Band. It’s a dreamy melodic jazz composition with Patrice Meyer on electric guitar; Pierre Olivier-Govin, saxes; Hugh Hopper on bass guitar; and Francois Verly on drums.
‘Shuffle Demons’ takes you back to Aberdeen, Scotland in 1995. It’s a jazz fusion track led by saxophone with fabulous bass lines. The band here features Steve Kettley on tenor saxophone; Paul Flush on keyboards; Hugh Hopper on bass; and Mike Travis on drums and percussion.
Track 4 is quite different from the previous material. It’s titled ‘Playtime – Hugh Hopper Interprets Alan Gowen.’ It’s a tribute to Gowen, keyboardist for seminal bands Gilgamesh and National Health, who passed away in 1981. Playtime is a superb progressive jazz-rock piece from 2002 played by Hugh Hopper using computer programming to generate all musical parts.
The saxophone fueled jazz cut ‘Debonaire‘ features the same line-up as in ‘Was A Friend.’
“MGH’ (2002) showcases an experimental improvisational duo formed by Hugh Hopper Hopper on fuzz bass and Nigel Morris on drums and percussion.
The album ends with a 2002 computer collage titled ‘Long Piece’ featuring a series of hypnotic loops, freeform jazz improvisation, and various samples.
All proceeds from this anthology are to benefit Hugh’s Hopper’s family.
Purchase Volume 1 – Memories