LP Review: Dave Gold Big Band - Heaven on Their Minds

(Review by Lance).

Recorded for a BBC Radio 2 Jazz Club broadcast that was aired on August 11, 1974, this limited edition vinyl release features, major British jazz soloists such as Ronnie Ross, Chris Pyne and Dankworth drummer, Harold Fisher alongside some A-list session men of the time.

MD Gold, son of the legendary Harry Gold (of Pieces of Eight fame), arranged all four tracks and composed two of them. He retains many of the big band conventions whilst incorporating the funk/rock rhythms that were becoming so much a part of the jazz scene at the time and which, indeed, have stayed with us in one form or another ever since. To draw a parallel, the Woody Herman Band on their Light my Fire album were working the same side of the street.

Nostalgia Ain't What it Used to be, cleverly mixes the past with the present (1974). Ross' baritone on the head could almost have been played by Gold's dad although Harry's solo wouldn't have been in the same timescale as Ronnie's. Girvan's guitar may have upset the purists at the time but, in retrospect, it was just right.

Just right, in fact, summarises this whole LP. Derek Gutteridge's flute's a revelation - listen to Jimmy Webb's Pocketful of Keys. Fisher's an ace kit man throughout.

Lloyd Webber may not have intended for Heaven on Their Minds, the title track, to be a swinger when he wrote Jesus Christ Superstar. In fact, he may well have deleted Superstar and replaced it with an exclamation mark when he heard this version!

O'Connell Street, the first original (Nostalgia being the second), has a jaunty Dublin feel about it as well as a funky raunchiness that fits the era nicely.

Apart from the music, it feels good to lovingly caress a solid vinyl disc in a sleeve built to last and with a sound that filled every nook and cranny when I came to play it.

Who says that Nostalgia Ain't What it Used to be? It sure is!

The Dave Gold Big Band - Heaven on Their Mind is available on pre-order limited edition vinyl [500 copies] or digital download from My Only Desire Records.

Release date: August 25, 2017.

Lance.

Dave Gold (MD); John Huchridge, Mike Davis, Terry Noonan, Don Morgan (trumpets); Roy Huchridge, Pete Smith, Chris Pyne, Maurice Pratt (trombones); Dennis Walton, Ronnie Machie (alto); Brian Ashe (tenor/flute); Derek Gutteridge (flute); Ronnie Ross (baritone); Cliff Hall (elec. piano); John Girvan (guitar); Les Hurdle (bass guitar); Harold Fisher (drums). - 1974.