John Stevens discography part 2:
1970 to 1974
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Jazz Workshop
broadcast
Trevor Watts (as/ss), Mike Pyne (p),
Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, London, November 14th,
1969; tr: BBC Radio 1, Jazz Workshop, Sun January 11th, 1970.
Hope (Watts)
545
Expectancy (Stevens) 915
Tales of sadness (Watts) 1305
Anxiety (Watts)
445
Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra*
For You To Share (cd
- part)
John Stevens (perc/voc), Trevor Watts
(ss), plus unidentified group of workshop students playing saxophones, flute,
guitar, double bass, percussion and voices. Rec. in a London studio, January 23rd, 1970.
Peace music (Stevens) 2746 Emanem 4023 (cd)
7.5ips mono copy master: NSA
C577/116. Peace Music is essentially the Sustained
Piece from the suite For You To Share. Reviewed
in Cadence, vol. 24 (Aug 1998), p28-30.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra*
For CND, For Peace, For You To Share** (lp/cd - part)
Trevor Watts (as/ss), John Stevens
(d), with a workshop group comprising unidentified young musicians "who
had just joined in and who were interested" and audience members "who
werent playing but just wanted to take part... singing and playing
gongs". Rec. live by Bob Brown at the Crypt, Ladbroke Grove, London, May
20th, 1970.
For you to share (suite comp. Stevens) Click piece 145
A Records A 01 (lp),
Emanem 4023 (cd)
Sustained piece 1 1226
Sustained piece 2 1220
If you want to see a vision 1035
Sustained piece 1 features Watts
(ss)/Stevens (perc) duo.
Unidentified personnel including
what was then the nucleus of the large S.M.E." rec live by Bob Brown at
an openair concert in Euston Square, London. Although the album sleeve cites
the date 9 May 1970 for this piece, the production master box indicates May
23rd, 1970.
Park piece (Stevens) 1750 A Records A 01 (lp)
2 x 15ips mono A Records LP prod.
masters: C577/5657 (H5555). LP notes by Martin Davidson based on a 1973
interview with John Stevens include an account of the origins of the music in
the composition Familie. Profits from the sale of the A Records LP (*originally released under
the name Spontaneous Music Ensemble) were donated to CND. For the Emanem CD
release (**re-titled For You To Share), Park piece was replaced by the studio recording Peace music from Jan 23rd, 1970.
LP reviewed by S. Lake in M. Maker 26/10/74 p65; cd reviewed in Cadence, vol. 24 (Aug 1998), p28-30.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
at Montreux Jazz Festival
Trevor Watts (ss/as*), John Stevens
(perc). Rec. Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, June 21st, 1970.
untitled imps: 249,
1230, 1202, 2125*, 825*, 1033, 730
add unidentified ensemble of approx.
20 amateur musicians, same date?
For you to share (Stevens)
3.75ips quarter-track mono reel:
C577/124. The first three items appear to have been recorded beside the outdoor
swimming pool before a small and inattentive audience. The poor recording
therefore suffers from intrusive ambient noise. The other items may have been recorded at a different performance
at the festival, possibly indoors, although the recording quality is little
better. For you to share was probably at least 30 mins in
duration but only 4 mins survives on the NSA tape. A notice in MM 14/3/70
(Jazz News) indicated Johns intention to take "as many of the 25piece
SME as possible".
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
Club broadcast
Ray Warleigh (as), other unidentified
personnel + John Stevens (d). Rec. live by BBC Radio, Camden Theatre, London,
November 2nd, 1970; tr: BBC Radio 2 (mono) & 3 (stereo) Jazz Club, Sun
November 22nd, 1970.
Expectancy (Stevens) 500
Birth (Stevens)
435
Time goes on (Stevens) 310
Phil (Stevens)
1320
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Amalgam Jazz in Britain
broadcast
Trevor Watts (as/ss), Mike Pyne (p),
Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, London, Sun November
8th, 1970; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, Mon December 28th, 1970.
Fulfilment (Watts ) 1325
Tribute to Trane (Watts) 1035
Thirteen (Watts)
200
Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
in Britain broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (fh), Chris Pyne (tb),
Ray Warleigh (as/fl), Trevor Watts (as/ss), Brian Smith (ts/ss), Mike Pyne (p),
Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. live during a Music Now/Arts Council
sponsored British tour, November 8th, 1970; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain,
Mon December 7th, 1970.
The source from and towards (suite, comp. Stevens)
Part 1: Expectancy
Part 2: Birth
Part 3: Thanksgiving
Part 4: Time goes on Version A
Version B
Version C
Part 5: You know
NSA 7.5ips mono offair rec: 1656W.
Note that the date of this recording and the Amalgam session preceding it
appear to be the same.
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Spontaneous Music Ensemble The
Source From And Towards (lp)
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Bob Norden (tb),
Chris Pyne (tb), Ray Warleigh (as/fl), Trevor Watts (as/ss), Brian Smith
(ts/ss), Mike Pyne (p), Ron Mathewson (b), Marcio Mattos (b), John Stevens (d).
Rec. studio, London, November 18th, 1970.
The source
from and towards (suite, comp. )
Part 1: Expectancy Tangent TNGS 107 (lp)
Part 2: Birth
Part 3: Thanksgiving
Part 4: Time goes on Version A
Version B
Version C
Part 5: You know
(composed: John Stevens)
Time goes on was based on a poem by Johns wife Anne. LP reviewed by Jack Cooke in Jazz &
Blues 0708/71 p28 & Into Jazz 5/74 p2526.
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Free Jazz Meeting BadenBaden
1970
The 1970 festival was again organised
by Joachim E. Berendt and was held in the studios of German Radio/Television
station SWF (Sdwestfunk) Baden-Baden over six days in December 1970,
selections broadcast on SWF Baden-Baden radio.
John Stevens & the BadenBaden
Free Jazz Orchestra: precise personnel uncertain but prob. incl. most of the
following (not all instruments): Don
Cherry (cor/fl/p/perc), Tomasz Stanko (tp/bells), Manfred Schoof (tp), Albert
Mangelsdorff (tb), Paul Rutherford (tb), Steve Lacy (ss), John Tchicai (as/ss), Trevor Watts
(as/ss), Peter Brtzmann (ts/bars/as), Willem Breuker (ts/bcl/cl/ss), Gunter
Hampel (vib/bcl/fl), Joachim Kuhn (p), Johnny Dyani (b), Peter Warren (b), Dave
Holland (b), Han Bennink (d/perc), Pierre Favre (d), John Stevens (d), Norma
Winstone (voc), Karin Krog (voc). Rec. live by German Radio, Free Jazz Meeting,
BadenBaden, Germany, December 7th, 1970.
Lets sing for him (March in memory of Albert Ayler) (Stevens) 535
7.5ips st. copy: NSA
C577/117 (NP10693Y)
The performance included an excerpt
from the Ayler album Ghosts and was arranged by John when news of his death
was received at the Meeting.
John Stevens Group: small group
including John Tchicai (as/ss/fl?), John Stevens (d). Rec. as above, ca.
December 7-12th, 1970; tr: SWF Baden-Baden (German Radio)
Forget and be forgotten (Stevens)
leader/composer (if any) unknown: Steve Lacy (ss), Peter Brtzmann
(reeds), Derek Bailey (g), Dave Holland (b), John Stevens (d).
unknown title/imp.
leader/composer unknown: Manfred
Schoof (tp), Albert Mangelsdorff (tb), Steve Lacy (ss), Trevor Watts (as), John
Surman (bars), Joachim Kuhn (p), Barre Phillips (b), Stu Martin (d), John
Stevens (d), Norma Winstone (voc). Rec. as above, ca. December 7-12th, 1970.
After the fight
1550 7.5ips st. copy: NSA C577/117
(NP10693Y)
Norma Winstone (voc), Karin Krog
(voc), Dave Holland (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. ca. December 7-12th, 1970.
Womans liberation No. 1 632 (approx) (title sic according to tape inlay)
Womans liberation No. 2 635 (approx)
leader/composer unknown: Manfred
Schoof (tp), John Tchicai (as), Willem Breuker (bcl), Gunter Hampel (vib/bcl),
Peter Warren (b), Pierre Favre (d), John Stevens (d). Rec. as above, ca.
December 712th, 1970.
Interactions
1422 (approx)
Gunter Hampel and the BadenBaden
Free Jazz Orchestra: personnel unknown. Stevens participation in this piece
has not been confirmed. Rec. as above, ca. December 7-12th, 1970.
Celebration music (Four movements) (Hampel)
The fourth movement was recorded two
days before the other three.
Don Cherry and the BadenBaden Free
Jazz Orchestra: similar personnel to above, featuring Don Cherry (cor/cond.),
Peter Brtzmann (ts), Han Bennink (perc), Norma Winstone (voc) & Krog
(voc). Stevens participation in this piece has not been confirmed. Rec. as
above, ca. December 7-12th, 1970.
The whole
earth catalog (Cherry) The individual
The universal
The eternal
Johnny Dyani and the BadenBaden Free
Jazz Orchestra: Don Cherry (cor/p), Manfred Schoof (tp), Steve Lacy (ss), John
Tchicai (ss), Trevor Watts (ss), Willem Breuker (ss), Gunter Hampel (fl),
Johnny Dyani (b), Peter Warren (b), Dave Holland (b), Pierre Favre (d), John
Stevens (d), Tomasz Stanko (bells). Rec. as above, ca. December 11-12th, 1970.
The day the child cried (Dyani)
John Stevens was probably recorded
playing with other combinations at the 1970 BadenBaden meeting but details are
presently unavailable.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ray Warleigh Quintet Jazz Club
broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (tp &/or fh), Ray
Warleigh (as), Mike Pyne (p), Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC
Radio, London, January 11th, 1971; tr: BBC Radio 1 (mono) and Radio 3 (stereo),
Jazz Club, January 31st, 1971.
Suspensions (M. Pyne) 1020
Lover man (Davis/Ramirez) 1135
Panic (M. Pyne) 532
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
"So, What Do You Think?" (lp)
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Trevor Watts
(ss), Derek Bailey (g), Dave Holland (b/clo), John Stevens (d). Rec. London,
January 27th, 1971.
"So, what do you think?" Parts 1 & 2
(Stevens) Tangent
TGS 118 (lp)
Notes by Max Harrison. Reviewed by
Brian Case in Into Jazz 5/7 p24.
A note in Trevor Watts diary
indicates that the SME was in rehearsal at Tangent Studios (London) on March 24th
1971. Notwithstanding Jak Kilbys reports of an unissued session featuring
Julie Tippetts on October 17th 1969 (see above), Trevor believes
this Tangent Studios session was her first date with the group and the first at
which she was involved in free improvisation.
John Stevens Saturday scene
interview
John was interviewed by Doug Crawford
at the BBCs Bush House, London, on April 1st, 1971. The five minute recording
was used as an insert in a feature on the Spontaneous Music Ensemble in the BBC
Radio series Saturday scene.
No known tape extant.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Jazz Club broadcast
Trevor Watts (sax), Mike Pyne (p),
Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, London, April 5th,
1971; tr: BBC Radio 2, Jazz Club, Sun May 2nd, 1971.
Rhythm is
(Stevens) 910
Fulfilment
(Watts) 230
Its about
time (Watts) 735
Rhythm is
(Stevens) 100
Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Sounds of the Seventies broadcast
Trevor Watts (as/ss/voc?), Ron Herman
(b/voc?), John Stevens (d/voc?), Julie Tippetts (voc/g). Rec. by BBC Radio,
Camden Theatre, London, April 25th, 1971; tr: BBC Radio 1, Sounds of the
Seventies, May 14th, 1971.
Rhythm is
(Stevens) 200
Nothing
(Stevens) 235
Sustained
piece (Stevens) 235
If you want
to see a vision (Stevens) 340
Rhythm is
(Stevens) 255
7.5ips st. copy from master (not
offair): NSA C577/119. This session may not have been broadcast in its
entirety.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
in Britain broadcast
Trevor Watts (ss), Ron Herman (b),
John Stevens (d/glock), Julie Tippetts (voc/g). Rec. by BBC Radio, Camden
Theatre?, London, April 25th, 1971; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, Mon
June 21st, 1971.
One, two,
Albert Ayler (Stevens) 400
Birds of a
feather (Stevens) 800
Chains of
freedom (Stevens)
1200
Click piece*
(Stevens) 200
7.5ips st. copy: NSA C577/118.
Continuous performance. Note that this programme was recorded on the same day
as the Sounds of the Seventies session detailed above, presumably as part of
the same session. *This piece may have been announced as Coda.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Live
Big Band and Quartet (lp/cd)
Kenny Wheeler (tp), Ian Carr (tp),
Chris Pyne (tb), Roland Czyzyk (pic), Trevor Watts (as/ss), Ray Warleigh (as),
Brian Smith (ts), Karl Jenkins (bars), Peter Lemer (elp), Mike Pyne (p), Ron
Herman (b), Ron Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d), Keith Bailey (d), Laurie Allen
(d), John Marshall (d), Julie Tippetts (voc/g), Maggie Nicols (voc), Pepi Lemer
(voc), Carolann Nicols (voc). Rec. live by Mike Steyn, Notre Dame Hall,
Leicester Sq., London, May 7th, 1971.
Lets sing for him (a march for Albert Ayler) (Stevens) 2123 Vinyl VS 0015 (lp), Konnex KCD 5045
(cd)
all out except Watts (ss), Herman,
Stevens, Tippetts
One, Two, Albert Ayler/Birds of a feather/Nothing (Stevens) 2435 Vinyl
VS 0015 (lp), Konnex KCD 5027 (cd)
7.5ips st. copy of Quartet item only:
NSA C577/122. Konnex KCD 5045 title: John Stevens Works SME Big Band &
Quintet; Konnex KCD 5027 title: John Stevens Works Retouch & Quartet.
Both discs reviewed by Michael Rosenstein in Cadence no. 20 (March 94) p30-31.
This concert also featured a performance of The source by a 10-piece band drawn from the above, although the
existence of a recording has not been confirmed. Concert billed in Melody Maker
8/5/71 p4 and reviewed by Michael Walters in Sounds 15/5/71 p26.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble 1.2.
Albert Ayler (lp)
Trevor Watts (ss), Julie Tippetts
(voc/g), Ron Herman (b), John Stevens (perc/voc). Rec. live in Oslo, Norway,
May 20th 1971.
1.2. Albert Ayler Part 1 (Stevens) Affinity
AFF 81 (lp)
1.2. Albert Ayler Part 2 (Stevens)
The concert was reviewed by Barry
McRae in Jazz Journal Int. vol. 37 (5/84) p20.
2 x 7.5ips st. reels: NSA
C577/120-121. Notes by Anthony Wood include history of the S.M.E. and the
Little Theatre Club etc. The group were in Norway from May 16th-22nd
(inclusive) and performed both in the afternoon and the evening of May 20th.
This version of the SME performed very few times in Britain and finished in
late 1971 when Julie Tippetts left. Reviewed by Barry McRae in Jazz Journal
Int. vol. 35 (11/82) p39. Reviewed in Jazz Journal
Int., Nov 1982, p39
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Norwegian television broadcast
Trevor Watts (ss), Julie Tippetts
(voc/g), Ron Herman (b), John Stevens (perc/voc). Filmed by Norwegian
television, Oslo, May 21st 1971.
unknown titles
Trevor Watts diary for this period
notes a Norwegian television recording on this date. Not presently known when
the recording was broadcast or if the recording survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bobby Bradford with John Stevens
and the Spontaneous Music Ensemble Vols 1 & 2 (lp)
Bobby Bradford (tp), Bob Norden (tb),
Trevor Watts (as/ss), Ron Herman (b), John Stevens (d/perc), Julie Tippetts
(voc)* Rec. Polydorowned studio, London, July 9th, 1971.
His Majesty
Louis (Bradford) Nessa N 17 (lp)
Room 408
(Bradford)
Fragment
(Stevens) Nessa N 18 (lp)
Tolerance/To
Bob (Stevens)* Freedom
FLP 40111 (lp), Nessa N 17 (lp)
Trane
rider/Ornettement/DooDee (Stevens) no tb Freedom
FLP 40111 (lp), Nessa N 18 (lp)
Bridgets
mother (Bradford/Watts)* 1. Freedom
FLP 40111 (lp), Nessa N 17 (lp)
Rhythm piece
(Stevens)* 2. Nessa N 18 (lp)
Norway
1. No tb, b, d (i.e. Watts/Bradford/Tippetts only)
2. Tippetts also plays guitar
Titles on FLP 40111 were also issued
on Intercord (Eur) 284653U, Freedom (Germany) 28465, (Germany) 127302, (Italy)
40111, (Japan) PA 7053. Vol 1 reviewed in Coda vol. 80 (1/10/81) p22, Vol 2
reviewed in Cadence vol. 12 (2/86) p75-76.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Birds Of A Feather
(lp)
Trevor Watts (ss), Ron Herman (b),
John Stevens (d), Julie Tippetts (voc/g). Rec. in Herouville, France, July
27th, 1971.
One, two,
Albert Ayler (Stevens) Byg (France) 529 023 (lp)
Birds of a
feather (Stevens)
Nothing
(Stevens)
Chains
(Stevens)
The group were in France from July 25th-July 30th.
The following unissued titles were also recorded during this visit:
Do it
Byg (unissued)
Rhythm is
(Stevens)
Click piece
(Stevens)
Sustained
piece (Stevens)
Some people
(Stevens) 1
add Bob Norden (tb or p)
Run
Nursery time
(Stevens)
C4 (Stevens)
1. Watts/Tippetts only. Album
reviewed by Michael James in Jazz & Blues 1/73 p33; Michael Walters in
Sounds 5/8/72 p14.
Gigs: As Trevor Watts later informed Martin Davidson:
Later that year we played Palermo Pop festival in a football stadium. Half
were shouting Julie's name, the other half throwing dirt at us rolled up in
newspaper. We then were trapped in the dressing room for a while after the gig
with people either wanting to kill us or hug us. That was sometime between Sept
5th and 8th 1971. The group played at (the Festival
Humanite?) in Paris on September.
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
at Collegiate Theatre
Trevor Watts (ss/as), prob. Ray
Warleigh (as), Brian Smith? (fl/ts), Pete Lemer (p), Ron Herman (b), Ron
Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d), Maggie Nicols (voc), Pepi Lemer? (voc), Julie
Tippetts (voc). Rec. live at the Collegiate Theatre, London, October 7th, 1971.
unknown
title (i)/unknown title (ii) 3655
total
unknown
title (ii) cont. on 2nd reel 1850
Rhythm is
(Stevens) 1027
Ghost (Stevens) 2330
3 x 15ips st. reels: NSA C577/3436
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Jazz in Britain
broadcast
Trevor Watts (as), Mike Pyne (p), Ron
Mathewson (b), Ron Herman (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, studio,
London, October 10th, 1971; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, Mon November
1st, 1971.
Higgins (Stevens*) 300
Unity (Watts) 800
For Derek (Watts)
1100
Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
Club broadcast
Trevor Watts (as), Mike Pyne (p), Ron
Mathewson (b), John Stevens (d), Pepi Lemer (voc). Rec. live by BBC Radio, October
18th, 1971; tr: BBC Radio 2 + stereo on VHF Radio 3, Jazz Club, November 7th, 1971.
Trevs day (Stevens)/One, two, O.C. (Stevens)
Higgins (Stevens)*
*Humphrey Lyttelton announced this
piece and noted its dedication but it was faded out after only seven seconds as
the programmes airtime was over! It may have been recorded in full but
probably no longer survives. Trevs day aka
Rhythm is. [Offair tape copy survives]
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
at the Berliner Jazztage Festival
Radu Malfatti (tb), Trevor Watts
(ss), Irne Schweizer (p), Arjen Gorter (b), John Stevens (perc/voc). Rec. live
at the Now Music Night, Technical University, Berlin Jazz Festival, Sat
November 6th, 1971.
unknown title
2700 (approx)
This festival was organised by
Joachim E. Berendt, who may have organised good quality recordings for his
German radio programmes, although this has yet to be confirmed. There may be
additional sets featuring Stevens.
Cassette dub of this set survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble with
Sonny and Linda Sharrock Berlin
Sonny Sharrock (elg), John Stevens
(d), Linda Sharrock (voc) + Trevor Watts (as), Ron Herman (b). Rec. live in
Berlin, prob. at the Jazz Tage Festival, ca. November 6th, 1971.
unknown title* 4615
3.75ips mono reel (v. poor sound):
NSA C577/124. This mainly improvised piece is largely a long guitar/drums duo
with occasional vocal contributions from Linda Sharrock. The sax and bass are
only heard in the last two or three minutes and are very poorly recorded. This
may also have been part of the Now Music Night on Saturday November 6th.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble with
Sonny Sharrock & Irne Schweizer Berlin?
Trevor Watts (as), prob. Irne
Schweizer (p), Sonny Sharrock (elg), John Stevens (d). Prob. rec. same
location/date as above.
unknown title 544
Dig. dub from cass. copy of reel: NSA
C577/190 (iv). See notes for entries above.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
at the 100 Club
Trevor Watts (ss/as), Ray Warleigh
(as/fl), Irne Schweizer (p), Ron Herman (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. live by
Mike Steyn, 100 Club, London, December 20th, 1971.
Limbo blues (Stevens?) Tangent (unissued)
What to do not to do (Stevens)
Albert (Stevens)
Call (Stevens)
Ealing (Stevens)
Hospitality (Stevens?)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
10-piece band incl. John Stevens (d).
Rec. live by Bob Brown, unknown location, January 19th, 1972.
Ghost (JS)
[Reflect] (JS)
Rec. not located. Info. from notes
held by Victor Schonfield.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Splinters live at the Grass
Roots
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Trevor Watts
(as/ss), Tubby Hayes (ts/), Stan Tracey (p), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d),
Phil Seamen (d). Rec. by Trevor Watts, London, January 1972.
unknown titles/imps.
Master recording survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Jazz Club broadcast
Trevor Watts (as), Ron Herman (b),
John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio at the British Council Students Centre,
London, February 4th, 1972; tr: BBC Radio 2, Jazz Club, March 19th, 1972.
Unity suite Part 4 (Watts) 1515
Unity suite Part 5 (Watts) 1058
Tape copies survive.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Play Blackwell and
Higgins (side 1)
Trevor Watts (as), Ron Herman (b),
John Stevens (d). Rec. live by Trevor Watts, Birmingham Arts Lab, March 23rd,
1972.
Blackwell (Stevens)
A Records A 02 (lp)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bob Downes Open Music Jazz in
Britain broadcast
Bob Downes (reeds), Dave Cole
(guitar), Marc Meggido (bg?), Barry Guy (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. studio, BBC
Radio, London, ca. April 1972?; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, [April 17th, 1972?]
South America suite (Downes) - Sad sonata
- Scorpio
- The revolution
The date is presently unconfirmed. Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
in Britain broadcast
John Stevens (d/cor), Paul Rutherford
(tb), Utako Ikeda (fl), Simon [Denis-Chevsky] (cl), Lol Coxhill (ss), Peter
Westbrook (ss), Trevor Watts (ss/as), Herman Hauge (as), Lou Gare (ts), Larry
Stabbins (ts), Mike Barton (viola), Stan Tracey (p), Christopher Small (p),
Derek Bailey (g), David Toop (g), Chris Turner (hca), Ron Herman (b), Jeff
Clyne (b), Jak Kilby (voc/thumb p), Paul Burwell (tabla). Rec. BBC studio,
London, April 9th, 1972; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, May 11th, 1972.
suite: Encompass (JS) Part 1: Search & reflect
Part 2: Stay where you
are*
Part 3: Ghost
total 2515
*incl. trio improv. by Watts (as),
Herman (b), Stevens (c) + Kilby (thumb p).
7.5ips st. copy: NSA C577/125 (NP10717Y)
+ 7.5ips mono offair rec: NP1986.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Splinters live at the 100 Club
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Trevor Watts
(ss?/as), Tubby Hayes (ts/fl), Stan Tracey (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Phil Seamen, John Stevens (d). Rec. live, 100
Club, Oxford Street, London, May 22nd, 1972.
unknown titles/imps.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Ken Hyders Talisker Jazz Workshop
broadcast
Personnel unconfirmed but including
John Stevens (cornet), Ken Hyder (percussion). Rec. BBC studio, London, ca.
July 1972; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz Workshop, July 21st, 1972.
unknown titles
Not held.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
at the Little Theatre Club
Trevor Watts (as/ss), John Stevens
(d/cor). Rec. live by Bob Brown &/or Trevor Watts, London, ca. 1971-1972.
untitled imps?
This is a catch-all entry for
possibly more than one recording of the Watts/Stevens duo known to have been
made by Trevor &/or Bob Brown during this period. Additional details
unavailable.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble live
in Cheltenham
Trevor Watts (as/ss), John Stevens
(d/cor?). Rec. live by Trevor Watts or Bob Brown, unknown venue, Cheltenham,
1972.
untitled imps?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mustapha Tettey Addy/John Stevens
duos
Mustapha Tettey Addy (d/perc), John
Stevens (d/perc). Rec. [studio] by Mike Steyn, ca. early 1970s.
unknown titles/imps. Tangent (unissued)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Splinters live at the Grass
Roots
prob. Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Trevor
Watts (as/ss), Tubby Hayes (ts/?), Stan Tracey (p), Jeff Clyne (b), John
Stevens (d). Rec. live by Trevor Watts, London, Sept 1972.
unknown titles/imps.
Master tape survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Splinters Jazz Workshop
broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Trevor Watts
(as), Tubby Hayes (ts/fl), Stan Tracey (p), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d).
Rec. by BBC Radio, studio, London, November 29th, 1972; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz
Workshop, Thur December 28th, 1972 (repeated December 21st, 1973).
John Stevens & Tubby Hayes interviewed by Ian
Carr
430
Sixpiece group improvisation
2355
NSA mono 7.5ips offair rec: 2166R.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Phil
Seamen Benefit
Trevor Watts (as/ss), John Stevens
(d/cor?). Rec. live by Trevor Watts or Bob Brown, Little Theatre Club, London,
late 1972.
untitled imps?
There is also rumoured to be a
recording of the SME augmented by members of AMM from this period (ca.
1971-1972), but this has not been comnfirmed and additional details are
unknown.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Harry Becketts Awakening Spirit
British Council Student Centre concert
Harry Beckett (tp/fh), Trevor Watts
(ss/as), Stan Tracey (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Louis Moholo, John Stevens (d). Rec.
live, December 15th, 1972.
unknown titles
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Stevens Sounds of the 70s: Sequence broadcast
John Stevens (d/perc/cor?). Rec. by
BBC Radio, tr: BBC R1, ca. late 1972-early 1973? This Friday evening edition of Radio 1s Sounds of the 70s
featured a session by a progressive pop/rock group with improvised links
supplied by a different guest musician each week. One programme featured
improvised links by John. Additional details presently unknown.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bob Downes Alternative Medicine
Jazz in Britain broadcast
Bob Downes (ts/as/fl/voc), Brian
Godding (elg), Barry Guy (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, studio,
London, unknown date (ca. early 1970s?); tr: BBC R3, Jazz in Britain, ca.
1972/73?
One for Sonny (Downes)
Lay Lola Lay (Downes)
Whatever happened to the Summertime? (Downes)
Tape copy survives.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Splinters live
personnel unconfirmed, poss. Kenny
Wheeler (tp/fh), Lol Coxhill (ss), Trevor Watts (as/ss), Peter King (as), poss.
Stan Tracey (p), poss. Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. live by Trevor
Watts, unknown location(s), ca. 1972/1973.
unknown titles/imps.
Master(s) survive.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Jazz
Workshop broadcast
prob. Trevor Watts (ss/as?), John
Stevens (perc/cor?), others unconfirmed. Rec. BBC Radio, 3 January 1973; tr:
BBC Radio 3, Jazz Workshop, Fri February 9th, 1973.
suite of five duettes* 2815
Group improvisations (*title as given
in BBC Written Archives files)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Play Blackwell and
Higgins (lp side
2)
Trevor Watts (as), Jeff Clyne (b),
John Stevens (d). Rec. by Trevor Watts live at the Phoenix, London, January
24th, 1973.
Higgins (Stevens)
A
Records A 02
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mongezi Feza/John Stevens at the
Crypt
Mongezi Feza (tp), John Stevens (d).
Rec. by Trevor Watts at The Crypt, Notting Hill, early 1970s.
unknown titles
Cassette master survives.
Gigs: Splinters (K. Wheeler/T. Watts/S.
Tracey/J. Clyne/J. Stevens) played Notre Dame Hall, 16/2/73 reviewed by Jack
Cooke in Jazz & Blues 2/73 p32, & Martin Davidson in Melody Maker
24/2/73 p47. May have been recorded by Trevor Watts. JS was also billed to
appear with Eddie Prvosts Spirals in a concert of Ritual Music Theatre at
the Roundhouse, 2/3/73, and possibly at Aston University, Birmingham, 27/2/73.
This was previewed in MM (3/3/73) to feature a 50-strong band including Lou
Gare/Trevor Watts/Evan Parker/Geoff Hawkins/Lol Coxhill/Mike Brannan/David Toop
(reeds & pipes), Phil Wachsmann/George Jensen (strings), Gavin Bryars/Barry
Guy/Ron Herman (b), Eddie Prvost/John Stevens/Frank Perry/ Paul Lytton
(d/perc) + chimes players etc.
Spontaneous Music Ensemble How Ya Doin?
Trevor Watts (ss), John Stevens
(perc/cor). Poss. recorded live at the Festival of Improvised Music,
Wolverhampton Art College, April 5th, 1973*
unknown title
Nondo 003 (lp)*
The SME contributed one track only to
this various artists compilation. *Or at Birmingham Arts Lab, same week?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra
Almost Free Theatre
Spontaneous Music Orchestra:
unidentified cor, tp, ss, as, ts, b, voc* etc. Rec. live by Martin Davidson,
Almost Free Theatre, London, 1 May 1973.
Sustained
piece 1 (loud instrumental
aborted by JS) 700
2 (instrumental) 900 Emanem 4039 (cd)
3 (vocal)* 3630 (first 547 only)
15 ips st. master: NSA C577/14
(H7195). CD notes by Martin Davidson.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bethnal Green Workshop/Spontaneous
Music Orchestra Little Theatre Club
Bethnal Green Workshop: unidentified
ss, as, ts, fl, Brian Eley (voc), Robin Musgrove (perc). Rec. live by Martin Davidson,
Little Theatre Club, London, May 8th, 1973.
unknown title/imp. 1600
approx.
Spontaneous Music Orchestra:
unidentified, prob. incl. members of the Bethnal Green Workshop (above) and
John Stevens (perc), same location/date.
DooDee (Stevens)
2345
15ips st. master: NSA C577/15
(H7196). The Bethnal Green Workshops were alternately tutored by John or Maggie
Nicols and the musicians were sometimes invited to perform as a group at the
Little Theatre Club. Other participants at this time included Paul Shearsmith
(tp), Robert Calvert (saxes/sopranino), Pete Luxton (voc), Alan Smith? (ss).
The workshop members would then be augmented by the S.M.E. and any other
musicians present to form the Spontaneous Music Orchestra.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space/Bethnal Green Workshop
Little Theatre Club
John Stevens (d), Robin Musgrove (d),
Dave Solomon (d), Terry Day (d). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre
Club, London, June 3rd, 1973.
untitled imp. [ka Four drummers] 1830
Free Space: John Stevens (cor/perc),
Trevor Watts (ss), Herman Hauge (as), Nigel Coombes (vln), prob. Ron Herman [or
Marc Meggido] (b), Terry Day (perc). Rec. same location/date as above.
Doodee (Stevens)
2500
unknown title
2900
Bethnal Green Workshop: unknown as,
ts, oboe, Brian Eley (voc), Robin Musgrove (perc). Rec. same location/date as
above.
Search and reflect (Stevens)
1500
2 x 15ips st. masters: NSA C577/1617
(H7197)
The group Free Space was founded by
percussionist Terry Day but seems to have been largely under Johns control at
Little Theatre Club performances.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space Little Theatre Club
John Stevens (cor/perc), Trevor Watts
(ss), Herman Hauge (as), Nigel Coombes (vln), prob. Ron Herman [or Marc
Meggido] (b), Terry Day (perc). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre
Club, London, June 8th, 1973.
unknown title [2nd set] 2730
15ips st. master: NSA C577/18
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space Little Theatre Club
John Stevens (cor/voc), Trevor Watts
(as), Herman Hauge (as), Nigel Coombes (vln), Terry Day (perc). Rec. live by
Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, ca. Summer 1973.
unknown title 1750 [start missing]
15ips st. master: NSA C577/20
(H7199).
This incomplete item was on the same
reel as (and partly overwritten by) the S.M.O. 28 September 1973 item.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Stevens Improvising Percussionist (various artists)
John Stevens (percussion, trumpet
solo). Rec. by Trevor Taylor, Pye Studios, London, ca. 1974.
unknown title approx. 1200 FMR CD81 (cd)
This recording was made for a projected LP issue in the
early 1970s, but not released at the time. The recordings coincided with a
series of interviews with British improvising percussionists which appeared in
the magazine Drums and Percussion. John plays his small SME kit. Reviewed in Avant 97/2 p55.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space/Spontaneous Music
Orchestra live at the ICA
Free Space: John Stevens (cor/voc),
Trevor Watts (ss), Herman Hauge (as), Nigel Coombes (vln), John Russell (g),
Ron Herman (b), Marc Meggido (b), Dave Solomon (d). Rec. live by Martin
Davidson, I.C.A. Theatre, London, July 1st, 1973.
unknown title 1520
Spontaneous Music Orchestra:
unidentified personnel prob. including members of Free Space as above; rec same
location/date.
One-Two 1042/ Emanem
4039 (cd)
DooDee (Stevens) 2930
(recording incomplete) unissued
15ips st. master: NSA C577/19 (H7198)
+ 7.5ips dup. of part: C577/126. One-Two evolved without pause into the piece Doo-Dee, but only the former has been
issued. CD notes by Martin Davidson.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Open Circle live at the Grass
Roots club
Trevor Watts (as), Stan Tracey (p),
Danny Thompson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. live at the Grass Roots club, The
Swan (public house), Stockwell, London, July 24th, 1973
unknown titles
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Steve Lacy The Crust
Steve Lacy (ss) [except**], Steve
Potts (as/ss) [except*&**], Derek Bailey (g), Kent Carter (b), John Stevens
(perc). Rec. live at the 100 Club, London, July 30th, 1973.
The crust 1000
Emanem 304
(lp)
A bit of the crust** 226 excerpt from above Emanem 4027 (cd)
38 1257 Emanem
4024 (cd)
Flakes
737 -
Revolutionary suicide
339 -
Out of the dumps*
212 unissued
A bit of the dumps**
330 Emanem 304 (lp), Emanem
4027 (cd)
The owl
620
All titles in Emanem 304 also issued
in Victor (Japan) VIP 6635 (lp)
CD notes by Martin Davidson
(1998/1999). Emanem 4024 titled
Saxophone Special +, includes pieces without Stevens from a later date.
Emanem 4027 is a Derek Bailey CD anthology titled Fairly Early with
Postscripts. The same quintet lineup also played a concert at the Victoria
& Albert Museum around this week which was reviewed by Michael James in
Jazz & Blues 10/73 p15.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Jazz Workshop
broadcast
Trevor Watts (as/ss*), Evan Parker
(ss), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, London, September
21st, 1973; tr: BBC Radio 3 Jazz Workshop, Fri October 26th, 1973.
Prelude (Watts) 315
Call (Stevens) 900
Ealing (Stevens) 1245
Coda (Watts) 300
Introduced by Ian Carr. Selections
from this radio session were at one stage planned for issue on the unreleased
Amalgam LP Ripple (Emanem) along with 1974 recordings by the trio of Trevor
Watts/Kent Carter/John Stevens. Although listed on Emanem sleeve inserts as
forthcoming the album was never released. Tape copy survives.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra
Mouthpiece (cd)
John Stevens (cor/voc), Trevor Watts
(ss), 2 x unidentified (as), prob. Nigel Coombes (vln), probably John Russell
(elg), unidentified (p), unidentified (b), probably Dave Solomon and Robin
Musgrove (perc). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, 28
September 1973.
In relationship to silence 2257 Emanem 4039 (cd)
15ips st. master: NSA C577/20 (H7199). This item appears to
overwrite an incompletely erased recording of Free Space, still audible at low
level. John gives verbal instructions to the orchestra at the start and
concludes the piece with the words, and so to bed (omitted from the cd
issue). The title, given by Martin
Davidson for the Emanem cd issue, was based on Johns instructions to the
orchestra at the start. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Quintessence 2 (part)
John Stevens (cor/perc/voc), Trevor
Watts (ss). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, October
11th, 1973.
Corsop (group imp.) 1108 Emanem 4016 (cd)
Daaoom (Stevens) 1018
Flower 925 unissued
add Derek Bailey (g)
unknown title* unissued
2 x 15ips st. masters (incl.
unissued): NSA C577/2122 (H4813 excluding last item). *This item was seriously
flawed by an electrical fault which occurred during recording. The remainder of
this CD comprises part of a concert from Feb 3rd, 1974. CD reviewed by Richard
Leigh in Resonance Vol. 6, No. 1 (1997) p42-43;
p42-43; Coda no. 280, July-Aug 1998, p38-9; Cadence, Sept 1997, p29-30
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Quintessence 1 (part)
Trevor Watts (ss), Kent Carter (b),
John Stevens (perc/voc/cor*). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre
Club, London, October 18th, 1973.
Rambunctious
1 (group imp.) 1836 Emanem 4015 (cd)
Rambunctious
2 (group imp.) 1720
(last 447 only issued)
Daaoom*
(Stevens) 1520
(first 505 only issued)
3 x 15ips st. masters (incl. unissued
portions): NSA C577/2325 (H4813). Insert notes by Martin Davidson. The
remainder of this CD comprises part of a concert from Feb 3, 1974. CD reviewed
by Richard Leigh in Resonance Vol 6, # 1 (1977)
p42-43; Coda no. 280, July-Aug 1998, p38-9; ; Cadence, Sept 1997, p29-30
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space Musicians Coop live
at Ronnie Scotts
John Stevens (cor), Bobby Bradford
(cor), Utako Ikeda (fl), Trevor Watts (as/ss), Herman Hauge (as), Dave de
Cobain (ss or ts), Nigel Coombes (vln), John Russell (g), Marc Meggido (b),
Terry Day (perc), Robin Musgrove
(perc), Dave Solomon (perc), Chris Turner (hca), Brian Eley (voc). Rec. live by
Martin Davidson, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, London, October 21st, 1973.
Ghost (Stevens) 3328 +
1800
[interrupted by tape change]
2 x 15ips st. masters: NSA C577/2627
(H7200)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Derek Bailey/John Stevens/Trevor
Watts Dynamics Of The Impromptu (cd - part)
Trevor watts (ss), Derek Bailey (g),
John Stevens (perc/cor). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club,
London, November 12th, 1973.
Impromptu dynamics 1 910 Entropy Stereo ESR 004 (cd)
untitled imp. 1705 unissued
Master tape probably held by Trevor
Watts.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bobby Bradford Loves Dream
Bobby Bradford (cor), Trevor Watts
(as/ss), Kent Carter (b), John Stevens (perc/cor). Rec. live by Martin
Davidson, Le Chat Qui Peche, Paris, November 16th, 1973.
Roswitas dance (Bradford) 1128 Emanem 302 (lp), Emanem
(USA) 3302 (lp)
Coming on (Bradford) 1643
as above, rec November 17th, 1973
Woman (Bradford) 805
Loves dream (Bradford) 1643
Room 408 (Bradford)
1010
HM Louis I (Bradford)
unissued
Album notes include biographies of
each musician by Martin Davidson.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stan Traceys Open Circle Radio
3 broadcast
Stan Tracey (p), Trevor Watts
(as/ss), Danny Thompson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. live by BBC Radio, Queen
Elizabeth Hall, London, November 19th, 1973; tr: BBC Radio 3, Stan Tracey 30
Years in Jazz, Mon June 3rd, 1974.
Cooee Q.E. (Tracey) 3701
This was part of a concert and
(later) broadcast celebrating Traceys 30th year in jazz, which also featured a
solo performance by Tracey and a duo by Tracey and Mike Osborne. Unusually,
this concert recording was retained by the BBC Sound Archive (T36325-26). Open
Circle had previously performed as the Stan Tracey Quartet at a benefit concert
for Tubby Hayes children which was held at the Swan on July 24th, 1973 (not
known to have been recorded).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra
Mouthpiece (cd -
remainder)
Unidentified large group, prob. incl.
John Russell (voc/g), Dave Panton (voc/reeds/p?), John Stevens (voc/d), Robin
Musgrove (voc/d?). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Ealing Technical College,
London, 23 November 1973.
Mouthpiece (Stevens) 2435 Emanem 4039 (cd)
15ips st. master: NSA C577/28
(H7201). CD insert notes by Martin Davidson, cover paintings by John
Stevens.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Face
To Face (lp/cd
part)
Trevor Watts (ss), John Stevens
(perc/cor*/voice). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London,
November 29th, 1973.
Preface to face A 330 Emanem 4003 (cd)
Preface to face B 416
Face to face 1*
1034 Emanem 303 (lp),
as above, rec December 6th, 1973
Face to face 2 [middle] 406
Face to face 2 [end] 138
Face to face 3 357
Face to face 4 529
Face to face 5 915
Face to face 6* (no perc) 448
Original LP reviewed by Steve Lake in Melody Maker 21/6/75
p30; LP reviewed by E. Chadbourne in Coda no. 153 (Jan/Feb 1977),
p17-18; reissue in Coda Magazine no, 266 (Mar-April 1996), p31; in Cadence, Oct
1995, p45
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Space Little Theatre Club
similar to October 21st, 1973
personnel? Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, December
12th, 1973.
Danceband (Stevens) 4140
15ips st. master: NSA C577/29
(H7202). This reel also includes last 2 mins of an unidentified (Colemanesque)
jazz piece from a different date.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Little Theatre Club
Trevor Watts (ss), John Stevens
(perc). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, December
14th, 1973.
Untogether
together (Stevens) 1
001
2 015
3 001
4 034
(bd)
5 149
6 027
7 136
Flower 144
15ips st. master: NSA C577/25
(H4813). Martin Davidson explained this clickpiece composition of Johns,
which required the musicians to improvise transient notes/beats with no
predetermined rhythm, the piece ending when the instruments eventually
coincided. In two instances the piece had a duration of only one second as when
Trevor and John started the piece simultaneously, the first notes were also the
last.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble Face
To Face (lp/cd remainder)
Trevor Watts (ss), John Stevens
(perc/cor). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, December
14th, 1973.
Face to face 7 [middle & end] 1016
Emanem 303 (lp), 4003 (cd)
Album notes by John Stevens. LP reviewed by E. Chadbourne in Coda no. 153 (Jan/Feb
1977), p17-18; reissue in Coda Magazine no, 266 (Mar-April 1996), p31; in
Cadence, Oct 1995, p45
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Derek Bailey/John Stevens/Trevor
Watts Dynamics Of The Impromptu (cd - part)
Trevor watts (ss), Derek Bailey
(elg), John Stevens (perc/cor*). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre
Club, London, December 18th, 1973.
Impromptu dynamics 2 1622 Entropy Stereo ESR 004 (cd)
Impromptu dynamics 3* 805 _
Master tape (prob. 15ips stereo)
suffers poor audio balance.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Little Theatre Club
John Stevens (cor), Trevor Watts
(as). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, January 10th,
1974.
untitled imp. 1332
untitled imp. [cont. on 2nd reel] 2014 total
Watts (ss), Stevens (perc). Same rec
location/date.
untitled imp. 405
untitled imp. 1605
2 x 15ips st. masters: C577/3031
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stan Traceys Open Circle Jazz
in Britain broadcast
Trevor Watts (ss/as), Stan Tracey
(p), Danny Thompson (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by BBC Radio, London, January
11th, 1974; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in Britain, Mon February 11th, 1974.
Cooee Q.E. (Tracey) 2825
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Derek Bailey/John Stevens/Trevor
Watts Dynamics Of The Impromptu (cd - remainder)
Trevor watts (ss), Derek Bailey
(elg), John Stevens (perc/cor). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre
Club, London, January 17th 1974.
Impromptu dynamics 4 1442 Entropy Stereo ESR 004 (cd)
Impromptu dynamics 5 951 _
Impromptu dynamics 6 1233 _
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Orchestra
Plus Equals (cd
remainder)
unidentified personnel incl. John
Stevens (cor), Trevor Watts (ss), Nigel Coombes (vln), John Russell (g). Rec.
live by Martin Davidson, Little Theatre Club, London, 24 January 1974.
SMO at LTC 2915*
(2021 only issued) Emanem 4062 (cd)
15ips st. master: NSA C577/32
(H7203). This piece (barring the
first 5 minutes, which remain unissued) was first issued in 2001 as a bonus
track in the cd reissue of the album SME + = SMO. The title was given by
Martin Davidson. Insert notes by Martin Davidson.
Gigs (not nec. recorded): Alan Skidmore,
Stan Tracey Trio, Lindsay Cooper, John Stevens played Room At The Top on Fri 8
February 1974. Spontaneous Music Ensemble played Polytechnic of Central London
on Thur 14 February 1974. Stan Tracey, John Stevens and Dave Green also played
at the opening night of the Polytechnic of Central Londons Jazz & Blues
Society (announced in MM 23/2/74 p16). Ronnie Ross, Stan Tracey Trio, Lindsay
Cooper, John Stevens played Room At The Top on Fri 15 February 1974. S.M.E. and
Derek Bailey played Little Theatre Club, Thur 21 February 1974. Peter King,
Stan Tracey, Lindsay Cooper, John Stevens at Room At The Top, Fri 1 March 1974.
Mike Osborne, Stan Tracey, Lindsay Cooper, John Stevens at Room At The Top, Sun
10 March 1974.
Amalgam Ripple
Trevor Watts (as/ss?), Kent Carter
(b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by Martin Davidson at his home, London, 1974.
Ripple Emanem
(unissued)
unknown titles (Watts comps + poss. Stevens)
This recording was at one stage
planned for issue on Emanem LP along with selections from the Amalgam broadcast
of October 26th, 1973. Although listed on Emanem sleeve inserts as forthcoming,
it was never released.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Quintessence 1 & 2*
Evan Parker (ss), Trevor Watts (ss),
Derek Bailey (g), Kent Carter (clo/b), John Stevens (perc/cor). Rec. live by
Martin Davidson, the ICA Theatre, London, February 3rd, 1974.
Forty minutes 4011 Emanem (Aus) 3401 (lp), Emanem 4015
(cd)
Thirtyfive minutes 3430 Emanem (Aus) 3402 (lp), Emanem 4016
(cd)
Ten minutes 1000
*Original LP issue titled Eighty-Five
Minutes - Parts 1 & 2. Notes by Martin Davidson. Concert reviewed by Ken Hyder in Melody
Maker 16/2/74 p48. Album Part 1 reviewed in Cadence vol. 14 (6/88) p83, &
in Jazz Journal Int. vol. 40 (5/87) p36. Reviewed in Jazz Forum n109 (1987)
p57-58. Concert preview in Into Jazz 2/74 p3. The CD issues also include selections from LTC concerts of
October 11 & 18, 1973. CD reviewed by Richard Leigh in Resonance Vol. 6,
No. 1 (1977) p42-43; p42-43; Coda no. 280, July-Aug
1998, p38-9; Cadence, Sept 1997, p29-30
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Capital Radio First All-night Jazz Jam broadcast
Stan and Jackie Tracey organised the
first ever allnight broadcast of live jazz on British radio, which took place
on Capital Radio from 2.006.30am on the morning of Sunday February 24th, 1974.
The programme, presented by Paddy OByrne, featured big band pieces, small
group improvisations, interviews with the musicians and nonplaying guests such
as Steve Lake, Ron Brown and Charles Alexander, and a live phonein.
Henry Lowther (tp), Sandy Brown (cl),
Malcolm Griffiths (tb), Don Weller (ts), Trevor Watts (as/ss²), John
Surman (ss/bcl¹), Stan Tracey (p), Lindsay Cooper (b), John Stevens
(perc).
untitled imp. (Promethean)¹ 1902 (broadcast ca. 2.04-2.23 am)
untitled imp. ² 1613
all out except John Stevens (cor),
Trevor Watts (ss)
untitled imp. 440 (broadcast
ca. 3.15-3.20 am)
Don Weller (ts), Stan Tracey (p),
Lindsay Cooper (b), John Stevens (d).
Round midnight (Monk)
801 (broadcast ca. 3.24-3.32 am)
The Stevens/Watts duo was not
announced as an S.M.E. performance. It seems to have been poorly micd and was
spoiled by reverb. Following the last piece detailed above, the musicians were
joined by Mike Osborne (as), Evan Parker (ss/ts) and Paul Lytton (d/perc), and
at some stage Henry Lowther added violin. No tapes of the remainder of the
programme have yet been located but John Stevens was almost certainly included
in other groups assembled. The event was reviewed by Steve Lake in MM 2/3/74
p20 and by Ron Brown in Into Jazz 4/74 p2. Some additional offair recordings
from this evening are also known to exist, but not necessarily featuring John
Stevens.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Steve Lacy, Trevor Watts, John
Stevens and Free Space at the ICA
John Stevens (cor), Trevor Watts
(ss), Herman Hauge (as), Nigel Coombes (vln), Peter Drew? [or Simon Mortimer?]
(p), prob. Roger Smith (g), Angus Fraser (b). Rec. live by Martin Davidson, ICA
Theatre, Nash House, London, Thurs February 28th, 1974.
Search and reflect (Stevens)
1348
add Steve Lacy (ss)
Torments (Lacy)/Ghost (Stevens) 1923 total
15ips st. master: NSA C577/33
(H7204). The concert was billed with the above heading. Another title recorded
by the band on this date (The wire) no longer exists. It was reviewed by Brian Case in Into
Jazz 4/74 p2. Steve Lacy also played a solo set.
John
Stevens hospitalized
MM 16/3/74 p10 & Into Jazz 4/74
p4 report an accident in which John fell and fractured his kneecap. The
kneecap had to be removed and he spent several weeks recovering in Lewisham
Hospital, but is again playing with Amalgam (Watts/Parker/Clyne/Stevens) at the
ICA on 31/3/74. Concert review by Val Wilmer; Melody Maker, Aug 10th
1974.
Splinters Scottish University
Concert broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (tp), Peter King (as),
Trevor Watts (as/ss), Stan Tracey (p), Danny Thompson (b), John Stevens (d).
Rec. live at Reed Concert Hall, Univ. of Edinburgh, May 9th, 1974; tr: BBC
Radio 3, Scottish University Concert, March 26th, 1975.
[part of] untitled imp. 66 mins only (approx) broadcast
NSA 7.5ips st. offair rec: T951BW
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Stevens Dance Orchestra
Jazz in Britain broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (fh/tp?), Trevor Watts
(as/ss?), Ray Warleigh (as/fl?), Mike Pyne (p), Lindsay Cooper (b?), Danny
Thompson (b), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d), Terri Quaye (perc). Rec. by BBC
Radio, Aeolian Hall, London, June 5th, 1974; tr: BBC Radio 3, Jazz in
Britain, Mon June 24th, 1974.
Its gonna be alright (Stevens) 2735
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Stevens Dance Orchestra
Phoenix concert
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Henry Lowther
(tp/fh), Paul Rutherford (tb), Chris Pyne (tb), Ray Warleigh (as/fl), Trevor
Watts (as/ss), Mike Pyne (elp), Lindsay Cooper (b), John Stevens (d), Terri
Quaye (congas). Rec. live by Herman Hauge at the Phoenix, Cavendish Square,
London, July 31st, 1974.
When is now! (Stevens) 4036
7.5ips st. copy: NSA C577/127. Other
recordings from this concert are known to exist in a private collection (titles
unknown).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam music from The
Connection
Trevor Watts (sax), Keith Tippett
(p), Kent Carter (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. by Martin Davidson in a makeshift
studio, London, October 12th, 1974.
unknown titles (Watts/poss. Stevens) Emanem (Am)
unissued
Watts out
Rambunctious* approx. 300
These were pieces the group had been
playing during a monthlong (approx.) engagement at a Hampstead Theatre,
providing live musical accompaniment to a theatre production of The
Connection. *This title was subsequently used for a couple of SME
improvisations from Oct 18th, 1973
but there is no link with this piece. Tapes survive.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dudu Pukwana and Spear Flute
Music
Mongezi Feza (tp/fl/perc/voc), Dudu
Pukwana (as/p/perc/voc), Victor Williams (p/elp/voc), Pete Cowling (bg), John
Stevens (d), Bob (cga), The Princess (voc). Rec. by Simon Heyworth, Manor
Studio, London, October 14-15th & November 30th, 1974.
Flute music (Feza) Caroline CA 2005 (lp)
Shekele (Pukwana)
Ko-didi (Victor Williams)
Sondela (Feza)
Freeze (Pukwana)
You cheated me (Feza)
Flute music (Feza)
Reviewed by Chris May in Black Music
7/75. John met bass guitarist Pete Cowling for the first time at this session,
leading to the formation of Away the following year.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam Innovation
Trevor Watts (as), Keith Tippett (p),
Kent Carter (b), Lindsay Cooper (b), John Stevens (d), Terri Quaye (congas).
Rec. at Chipping Norton Studios, Oxfordshire, November 12th, 1974.
Staggering (Stevens)
Tangent TGS
121 (lp)
When is now
(Stevens)
Hello
(Stevens)
Suzie Jay
(Watts) Tangent TGS 121 (lp)
Austrian
roll (Stevens)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stan Tracey Octet Jazz Club
broadcast
Kenny Wheeler (tp/fh), Malcolm
Griffiths (tb), Trevor Watts (as), Alan Skidmore (ts/ss), Don Weller (ts), Stan
Tracey (p), Harry Miller (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. BBC Radio studio, London,
October 29th, 1974; tr: BBC Radio 2, Jazz Club, Nov 17th, 1974.
Spectrum no. 3 823
Spectrum no. 2 1318
Spectrum no. 1 505