This was the house band at the 1860 tavern in Wellington during the mid 1970s.This Album was recorded by New Zealand’s Ode recording company in 1978. The owner of Ode (Terence O’Neill Joyce) produced the album.
The 1860 band was the rhythm section for the much larger Roger Fox Big Band.
Bass and lead guitar; Rob Winch, drums/percussion; Bill Brown, keyboards; Peter Blake, trombone and leader; Roger Fox, trumpet flugelhorn flute and vocals; Geoff Culverwell.
The main inspiration for this band were the fusion recordings of the CTI recording company (founded by Creed Taylor in 1968). Creed Taylor hired the top jazz musicians of the day to make recordings of rock-jazz fusion.
The first track “Us” by Les McCann features Rob Winch’s funky rock guitar soloing very much in the style of Joe Beck…leading to intense trumpet and trombone. Peter Blake on keyboards distilling all his influences to something new.
“Keep the same old feeling “ by the Jazz Crusaders . Roger Fox does so much musically. Geoff Culverwell on flugelhorn and trumpet reflecting Freddie Hubbard. Peter Blake showing a Bob James influence, while Rob Winch pops and bops in the style of Stanley Clarke. Geoff doing a good job on vocals.
The original “Von Tempsky” features soaring mile high trumpet soloing inspired by Hubbard, and delicate Bob James style keyboards. This tune was written by Robs brother guitarist Martin Winch. (more about him in a later article).
“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor (but influenced by a CTI cover) features Geoff Culverwell on vocals, and flute. beautiful ,delicate… like a flower, very much influenced by the great Hubert Laws.
“That’s the kind of love I’ve got for you”( A Dusty Springfield song) features Rob Winch funking up the bass like Stanley Clarke, then a flying guitar solo touching on Jimi Hendrix. Geoff really covers this song well(knowing who the singer was).Driven by the two man funky horn section feeling so much bigger.
“California dreaming “ by Phillips but inspired by the CTI version.I really enjoy musically what Roger Fox is doing on trombone….and the flute solo drawing from Roland Kirk and Hubert Laws.
The original “Porky”(by Culverwell, Blake and Winch) features a drum and percussion solo twenty years before its time. More like the acid jazz and drum and bass of the 1990s. During the 90s a DJ told me that track was widely sampled by Auckland DJs … a feeling of wide dark vistas.
The album goes out on “Adopted by D Hollis” featuring Geoff’s beautiful haunting flute solo.
GT
Go to www.audioculture.co.nz or google New Zealand’s 1860 band
