Aberaeron Skies a new CD Album by Big Chief and John Fry, a nod to the Aberaeron Carnival

01 Trevor's at The Feathers

Trevor’s at the Feathers is a carnival calypso for an old friend who we first met in Aberaeron, and who now lives in Tenerife. Musicians: Ed Benstead – trumpet; Chris Fry – trombone; John Fry – sop./alto sax; Jeff Miller – sousaphone; Les Cirkel and Tony Edwards – drums. Composed by John Fry.

02 Hornblower

The tune, Hornblower goes way back and was unashamedly inspired by the music of Charlie Mingus. Musicians: Ed Benstead – trumpet; Chris Fry – trombone; John Fry – tenor sax; Adrian Bishop Laggett – electric piano; Barry Langton – guitar; Tony Reeves – bass guitar; Les Cirkel – drums. Composed by John Fry.

03 Blues for Wardell

Blues for Wardell is an affectionate nod toward the late, great Wardell Gray, who died far too young. Musicians: As for Hornblower with Deian Hopkin replacing Adrian Bishop Laggett and Tony Reeves on upright bass. Composed by John Fry.

04 Blue Pepper

Blue Pepper is for the alto sax virtuoso, Art Pepper. Musicians: Ed Benstead – trumpet; Chris Fry – trombone; John Fry – alto sax; Barry Langton – guitar; Mike Searl – bass guitar; Steve Taylor – drums. Composed by John Fry.

05 Ska Tissue

I had major surgery in 2009; I wrote this while convalescing. Musicians: As for Hornblower but with Tony Edwards replacing Les Cirkel on drums. Composed by John Fry.

06 Vanessa Mary

Shortly after we met and fell in love, this little ballad came along. Musicians: As for Blue Pepper minus Ed Benstead and Chris Fry. John Fry on tenor sax. Composed by John Fry.

07 Blues in Twos

Blues in Twos was composed by John Fry and Dick Heckstall-Smith; it was a shared venture; I wrote the first chorus and he added the second. description words about the tune same as on the CD plus anything extra. Musicians: As for Hornblower with Deian Hopkin replacing Adrian Bishop Laggett and Tony Reeves on upright bass.

08 I'm just a lucky so and so

Some weeks after the aforementioned op., Ed told me he’d found this great song for me to do called, I’m Just a Lucky So and So. Musicians: As for Blue Pepper with Adrian Bishop Laggett – electric piano, and John Fry – vocal, but without Chris Fry. This one was composed by the great Duke Ellington.

09 Africa Rag

Africa Rag was composed by John Fry and Barry Langton and was inspired by a township guitar groove that Barry was messin’ with at the end of a gig. The bones of the tune came to me going home in the car. Musicians: As for I’m Just a Lucky So and So with Chris Fry added on trombone.

10 Pour Tout Le Monde

While holidaying in Honfleur, France, we came across a lovely carousel. Vanessa asked if she could ride on it and this is what she was told. “Mais oii, c’est pour tout le monde,” – just a magic moment.. Musicians: As for Ska Tissue minus Adrian Bishop Laggett and with Les Cirkel replacing Tony Edwards. Composed by John Fry.

11 Aberaeron Toodle-oo

Aberaeron Toodle-oo: This arrived shortly before we started recording. Jazz people will spot the title as an allusion to an early Ellington tune. Musicians: Ed Benstead – trumpet; Chris Fry – trombone; John Fry – sop./alto sax; Jeff Miller – sousaphone; Les Cirkel and Tony Edwards – drums. Composed by John Fry.

12 Blues in Twos

Bonus Track: Recorded at the Pegasus, Stoke Newington circa 1982 with Dick Heckstall-Smith – tenor sax; John Fry – tenor sax; Adrian Bishop Laggett – electric piano; Mike Jacques – guitar; Tony Reeves – bass guitar; Tony Edwards – drums. Composed by John Fry.

13 Uhuru

Bonus Track: Guitarist, Mike Jacques, who was heavily into ska and reggae, auditioned for Big Chief in the late seventies. On the way home from Tony Reeves’ place in Bushey, this one came into my head. Recorded at the Pegasus, Stoke Newington circa 1983 with Dick Heckstall-Smith – tenor sax; John Fry – tenor sax; Adrian Bishop Laggett – electric piano; Mike Jacques – guitar; Tony Reeves – bass guitar; Tony Edwards – drums. Composed by John Fry.

14 Aberaeron Skies

Bonus Track: This gentle township groove was inspired by the great Abdullah Ibrahim. Recorded at the Old Bull Theatre, High Barnet in 2000 with Ed Benstead – trumpet; Chris Fry – trombone; John Fry – tenor sax; Adrian Bishop Laggett – electric piano; Mike Jacques – guitar; Tony Reeves – bass guitar; Louis Borenius – drums; Tony Edwards – conga drums. Composed by John Fry.

Aberaeron Skies: the new Album by Big Chief & Friends

Aberaeron Skies

About Aberaeron Skies

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