Blue Gene Tyranny
Heard about this one on Japanese record collector Yozo Kumitake’s excellent Originals Volume 9 compilation CD. Savanna Silver Band were a mostly unknown latin jazz rock group that played the Melbourne bar circuit in the late seventies. Led by the physically large Michael “Savanna” Silver, the group was apparently an amazing live act to watch with their tripped out west coast rock sound and Santana style grooves. The album plays great all the way through its 10 tracks but there are a few clear highlights. A2 Like I Do is a laid back, late night love song that features an excellent phaser bassline. B1 Take A Giant Step takes us into cosmic rock territory with a minute-long synthesizer and gong intro played by Mr. Silver himself that launches straight into a killer mid-tempo funk groove. B4 Mr. Featherman follows a similar formula but this time starting off with a trippy, almost Eastern sounding chant.
– Phil Cho
Recommended – A2 Like I Do, B1 Take A Giant Step, B4 Mr. Featherman
Tags: Cosmic / Jazz-rock / Latin / Mellow / Obscure
Tracklist:
A1 Ruby Running Faker
A2 Like I Do
A3 Chaser
A4 Coming Home
A5 It Takes A Woman
B1 Take A Giant Step
B2 Why
B3 Foolish People
B4 Mr. Featherman
B5 Just Remember
Credits:
Arranged By – Gil Matthews, Savanna Silver Band
Backing Vocals – Meryle Petein, Olga Binos
Bass – Paul Wheeler (3)
Clarinet – Mel Stainton (tracks: A1)
Congas, Timbales, Percussion [Latin] – Alejandro Pertout Navarro
Drums – Anthony Doyle
Guitar – Tony Pedroza (tracks: B3, B5)
Guitar [Rhythm] – Graham Jenks
Lead Vocals, Guitar [12 String], Synthesizer, Gong, Arranged By [Brass, Vocal], Composed By, Lyrics By – Michael Savanna Silver
Percussion – Anthony Doyle, Michael Savanna Silver
Producer, Engineer – Gil Matthews
Saxophone – Russell Smith (3)
Trombone – Miguel Carranza
Trumpet – John McCulloch, Tim Fettes
