Trevor Watts : alto sax | Jeff Clyne : bass | John Stevens : drums | Barry Guy : bass*

Side A: 1. Tales of Sadness 14’36” 2. Judy’s Smile I 9’58” Side B: 1. Judy’s Smile II 10’12” 2. Judy’s Smile III 8’46” 3. Prayer for Peace* 7’36”

All compositions by Trevor Watts * Recorded at Advision London on the 20th May, 1969 * The material was transfered from the original reel to reel tapes and mastered by Arunas Zujus at MAMAstudios * Design by Oskaras Anosovas * Producer – Danas Mikailionis * Co-producer – Valerij Anosov

It is our great pleasure

to present this reissue of the legendary Amalgam recording with Trevor Watts, Jeff Clyne, John Stevens and Barry Guy. This recording received the highest rating by The Penguin Guide to Jazz.

It was re-mastered from the original reel to reel tapes.

Trevor Watts and NoBusiness Records dedicate this reissue to the great man and musician Jeff Clyne, who passed away in 2009.

THIS RELEASE IS DEDICATED TO JEFF CLYNE

Jeff Clyne 1937 – 2009

Amalgam’s “Prayer For Peace”

recorded in 1969, and it might well be the re-issue of the year. The band is Trevor Watts on alto, Jeff Clyne on bass and John Stevens on drums, with Barry Guy playing bass on the title track.

“Tales Of Sadness” starts with arco bass and a wonderful melody on the alto, slowly, very slowly increasing the intensity till they’re playing up a storm after a while,with especially Watts doing an extraordinary expressive piece while staying within the tune, overblowing like crazy, till absolute madness, relentlessly, without losing sight of the melody which suddenly comes shining back through the mayhem like a sudden smile breaking through the tears on a face full of agony and fear. This track is nothing short of phenomenal, and by itself worth buying the album for.

The second piece, “Judy’s Smile 1”, is less intense, yet equally beautiful, and it is continued on the second side of the vinyl LP with “Judy’s Smile 2”, which starts slowly with great bass-playing by Clyne, and perfect accents by Stevens for a quiet almost gospel-like melody on the alto. Then Stevens starts pushing up the tempo, and the piece gains again a strong momentum, going beyond bop in a more free fashion.

Also the last piece, with Barry Guy on arco, lifts the music into high spheres, fully delivering the title’s content, without any need for further explanation, reverent, expansive, spiritual and full of inherent beauty and emotional depth. Magnificent! — Stef

LP version (incl. shipment cost world-wide)