Jade Warrior

[yoyiceu]

I've started hearing again some of my old Jade Warrior albums and have begun thinking that maybe they are one of the most underrated prog bands from the classic era. My favorites are the first three Vertigo releases, culminating with Last Autumn's Dream, when they had regular songs and singing, but anyway also were wildly experimental... specially in the way the seldom used regular drums, opting instead for other types of percussion.
Years later, they would release two additional albums from this era, that apparently were suppossed to be a double album that was never released in their time.
These, Eclipse (1998) and Fifth Element (1998) may be among the best posthumously released albums ever, on a par with the two releases by German band Out of Focus.
Their next era, on Island, included the instrumental kind of new ageish albums like Waves and Kites, which are also very good and a logical step, as they always had been very atmospheric and cinematic.
They really never stopped making this kind of music until the nineties.
Finally, in 2008 -after the death of Tony Dunhig, one of the two core members- the other core member, Jon Field, produced Now, with the return of Glyn Havard, bassist and singer in the first three albums. It's a wonderful return to their original sound.
On last count, they have released 17 albums, a tremendous career for a band that never really had much commercial sucess.

[JKL2000]

I think they did have some commercial success with their more ambient releases, because I knew people who were pretty mainstream who had their albums.

[calyx]

You don't mention their two 1990s releases, "Breathing The Storm" (1992) which was initially going to feature Duhig but he died during the preparation phase, it's more of a straight new-age album but beautiful, and "Distant Echoes" (1993) which is more eclectic, and features David Cross and Theo Travis among others. Both featured Dave Sturt, the current Gong bassist, and Colin Henson on guitar, alongside founding member Jon Field.

[yoyiceu]

Sorry, Calyx, I know they made albums in the nineties... that's why I said they were active until then. And, yes, the Island albums were the best known ones and they were even rereleased in a multi CD box years later... but I don't think they were necessarily a commercial success, at least close to the level of the big prog bands of the day, or even the mid-seventies version of King Crimson. One tell-tale sign: no live albums... although I would love to hear what they sounded like live, specially during the Vertigo years.

[Sputnik]

I love the Island period and Distant Echoes. I wasn't as blown away by Eclipse, Fifth Element or Breathing the Storm (which I just found too atmospheric). And I never really liked Havard's singing or the songs he sings, so the the early albums and Now are a pass for me (though there is some material on those I do like).

But yeah, JW has always been a little "under the radar" and with a ton of albums are a band folks can and should explore. Not all of it will likely be to everyone's taste, but the catalog is well worth sampling.

Bill

[calyx]

I would love to hear what they sounded like live, specially during the Vertigo years.

I don't think the toured at all during the Island era, did they ? I remember reading about an early American tour they did, with a line-up that included David Duhig on 2nd guitar, but I don't know they extent of their touring back then. The subsequent era was for all intents and purposes a studio project.

[time captain]

Awesome thread , amazing band. I agree about the overlooked part.
Also there is "Horizen" 1984 from Jade Warrior [ a mostly Tony project ].
"At Peace" from late 1980s, Jon & Tony. This is an actual attempt at "new age" music, as by this time the genre existed.
The Island albums for-shadowed elements of "new age" & "world music" [ and much more ] years before either genre was molded to extract the beauty, and only the beauty [ leaving out the more scary & adventurous & rocking bits ] from music like Jade Warrior.
There is also the Dogstar Poets album "Off Planet" 2002 which sees guitarist David Duhig, Glyn Havard & drummer Alan Price back together.
If you would like to hear a 1980s era interview w/ Tony & Jon - originally posted on the ECHOES radio show, here is a rebroadcast from my Time Trip Radio show ...

http://timetripradio.com/webpage/2013/07

[Lopez]

Love Jade Warrior and all of their incarnations. Used to be able to find all their Island albums in the used record shops for 99 cents each. No more; they're going for about 15 bucks apiece now.

[time captain]

I forgot to mention there is an interview at the above Time Trip Radio link to a very rare interview with Tony Duhig just before his death: scroll down to bottom of page .

[yoyiceu]

Does anyone else see a similarity between the Vertigo era Jade Warrior and the Wetton-Bruford era King Crimson? I see some coincidences, specially in Crimson songs like Easy Money, and the way both bands used dynamics: soft, almost inaudible segments followed by violent ones, with wailing guitars.

[JJ88]

I have that old 2-cd set of all the Island albums. I particularly like the track 'Waterfall', I think this was on 'Floating World'.

As ever I can't say about their popularity in the 70s but going on sales alone, they were a cult act- none of their albums charted here, but Island in particular kept the faith with them for several albums, as had Vertigo before that. But as with much progressive music of the time, it's definitely grown in mystique over the years. I think there's much to enjoy if you're a fan of early Mike Oldfield and maybe Brian Eno's more tranquil moments too.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

Now is closer to King Crimson than ever, maybe because the lyrics are 'world-weary and jaded' than 'youthfully optimistic' as heard on the Vertigo years.

[Steve F.]

I don't think the toured at all during the Island era, did they ? I remember reading about an early American tour they did, with a line-up that included David Duhig on 2nd guitar, but I don't know they extent of their touring back then. The subsequent era was for all intents and purposes a studio project.

To the best of my knowledge, the Island-era duo never played a live gig.

Listen to those albums; how could they?

[PeterG]

[PeterG]

[Scrotum Scissor]

To the best of my knowledge, the Island-era duo never played a live gig.

Listen to those albums; how could they?

QFT. In fact, I seem to remember some Mojo (I think?) interview with one of the main guys behind the band saying they never even considered performing it. One word: Kites - this is orchestral headmovie-soundtrack music sporting some amazingly detailed production values specifically adjusted to the dynamics of the palate. Those four Island records are all very, very good - and different! - yet Kites, for me, was their crowning achievement.

As for people diggin' the early JW, be sure to check out Duhig's semi-legendary venture into deranged psych-rock/pop with July (donning Tom Newman as well).

[Mister Triscuits]

QFT. In fact, I seem to remember some Mojo (I think?) interview with one of the main guys behind the band saying they never even considered performing it.

Apparently Island's Chris Blackwell tried to arrange a showcase gig for them with an orchestra, but it never panned out. I thought I remembered reading years ago about them actually doing a gig in London, and it was a disaster, but I must be confusing the Island-era band with the earlier trio, which did do gigs.

[Progbear]

If Side 2 of their debut were as good as Side 1, it would be a five-star album for sure. Sadly, it’s not even close.

From the Island period, Floating World and Way of the Sun are my faves. They have a mix of the “floating” ambient sound with sudden bursts of rock energy. The other two Island releases are pretty much just the ambient stuff, and haven’t ever really clicked with me.

[Kanukisbrave]

Looks like the newest "Hiaku" is likely never to be.. website stopped being updated over 2 years ago... and with Dave Sturt now with Gong,it looks like there isn't anyone left that can inspire Jon to finish and release it :-(

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

Does anyone else see a similarity between the Vertigo era Jade Warrior and the Wetton-Bruford era King Crimson? I see some coincidences.

No. That's all they are is coincidences.

[Watanabe]

Released is my favourite.The harder edge and the addition of sax and the great drumming of Alan Price worked really well.

[soundsweird]

I have all of their albums, plus the aforementioned pre-JW psych band "July" with Tom Newman. Pity that LP was recorded in mono, because it has some nice instrumentation and arrangements. Speaking of Tom Newman (or Thomas Newman as his name appears on soundtracks these days), Jade Warrior, Mike Oldfield, Pip Pyle and other luminaries appeared on his "Fine Old Tom" album in the early 70's. Very quirky, fun and unique album.

[yoyiceu]

This links to a page that shows set lists for some 14 Jade Warriors concerts in 1972, both in England and in the US.
http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/jade-...-7bd642ac.html

[bill g]

Just listened to 'Now' the other day and it sounded great. Track 2 is probably my favorite, but its really consistent. In the old days, when playing 'Last Autumn's Dream' for example, we would have to get up after 'May Queen' and skip the stupid 'Demon Trucker' song forward to 'Lady of the Lake'. Good stuff for the most part though. Of the instrumental albums, I always liked 'Horizen' and 'Way of the Sun' the most. The only ones I didn't care as much for were 'Breathing The Storm' and 'At Peace'.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

7.12 Now
7.08 Floating World
7.03 Last Autumn's Dream
6.98 Released
6.94 Way of the Sun
6.89 Waves
6.87 Jade Warrior
6.66 Breathing the Storm
6.63 Eclipse
6.61 Kites
6.57 Fifth Element
6.54 Distant Echoes
6.08 Horizen
5.55 At Peace

out of 10