Pete York Albums (6)
'Roses of Picardy'
Release Date 1/20/2009
Tracks 18
Label Sounds of Yesteryear
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What The Critics Say
The Pete York Percussion Band was not so much a stable outfit as the name drummer York used for various aggregations he helmed in the early '70s, playing with musicians who were available at the time. Extension 345 is a live recording of a London gig, probably from 1974; the otherwise highly detailed liner notes aren't quite specific about the date. On this occasion, the band also included Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord; Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice; guitarist Ray Fenwick and bassist Charlie McCracken, who'd just played with York in a reunited version of the Spencer Davis Group in the early '70s; and the five-piece band Yipee, which included a horn section. Like many one-offs of big groups with sterling individual credits, the music that resulted wasn't as interesting as the more deliberate and structured recordings of the famous bands in which they'd previously played. It's a nonetheless acceptable, though not thrilling, set of early-'70s rock with progressive, jazz, and R&B influences colliding all over the place. The instrumental "Points," for instance, almost gets into Traffic/Family/early King Crimson territory in its cerebral flits between pseudo-classical passages and busy jazz-rock chops, the tempo changing all the while. "Sombrero Sam" and "Moleshawk" almost sound like a progressive hard rock band getting into Brazilian jazz, and the yet jazzier 17-minute "Extension 345" is built around an extensive drum duel between York and Paice. The covers of "Satisfaction," "Jailhouse Rock," and "Gimme Some Lovin'," however, come off as the filler of a temporary ensemble that really hadn't worked up sufficient material to fill up a strong album. The sound quality's decent, though, and the 12-page booklet has a lot of information about the juncture of York's career in which he was leading the Pete York Percussion Band. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'Live and Swinging'
Release Date 11/25/2003
Tracks 10
Label Nagel Heyer
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What The Critics Say
The musicianship of this swing-oriented European quintet is excellent and there are plenty of colorful solos by trombonist Roy Williams, pianist Wolfgang Dalheimer, and particularly Alan Barnes on tenor, alto, and clarinet; Barnes' spot on alto during Horace Silver's "Sister Sadie" is one of the high points. The weak point to the program (all but the closing "Shiny Stockings," which adds Rick Keller on tenor, is from January 17, 1998) is that drummer Pete York takes an excess of vocals. His singing is well-intentioned but his voice is merely average, slowing down the momentum and power of the music. Much better are the band's instrumental renditions of "Big Swing Face," "Isfahan," and a nearly 20-minute medley from Duke Ellington's sacred concerts that is comprised of "Tell Me It's the Truth" and slow and fast versions of "Come Sunday." The faster "Come Sunday" is known as "David Danced Before the Lord With All His Might" and has an exciting drum solo from York. That medley by itself is a good reason to acquire this disc from the German Nagel Heyer label. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A digital live recording of the trio in Freiburg, Germany, in April 1985. After their fine work the previous year with Spencer Davis, the tightness of York and Hodgkinson's interplay on this release comes as little surprise. Auger makes for a fine third, though, with his electric piano lines wafting effortlessly over the rhythm section of "For No One." Despite a long and loping cover of Donovan's "Season of the Witch," and a Hammond romp through a Jimmy McGriff number, the emphasis brought by Auger's presence is on electric jazz-rock. The band even gamely covers a couple Billy Strayhorn chestnuts mid-show. Like the York/Hodgkinson concerts with Spencer Davis, though, it's Hodgkinson's solo bits that steal the spotlight. His sinewy "Catcote Rag" bass solo features some lovely glissando playing, and the "San Francisco Bay Blues" hearkens back to his string-shredding bass blues with Back Door. ~ Paul Collins, All Music Guide
'Pete York Percusson Band'
Release Date 1/1/1972
Tracks 10
Label Decca
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