Week of February 22, 1997
Keef was born on March 8, 1944, in Preston, Lancashire, England.
Together with Colosseum, the Keef Hartley Band
of the late 60s, forged jazz and rock music sympathetically to appeal
to the UK progressive music scene. Drummer Hartley had already seen vast
experience in live performances as Ringo Starr's replacement in Rory
Storm And The Hurricanes. When Merseybeat died, Hartley was enlisted
by the London based R&B band the Artwoods, whose line-up included
future Deep Purple leader Jon Lord.
Hartley was present on their only album, "Art Gallery" (now a much
sought-after collectors item). He joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
and was present during one of Mayall’s vintage periods. Both
"Crusade" and "Diary Of A Band" highlighted Hartley's economical
drumming and faultless timing. The brass-laden instrumental track on John
Mayall's "Bare Wires" is titled "Hartley Quits". The
good-natured banter between Hartley and his ex-boss continued onto Hartley's
strong debut, "Halfbreed". The opening track "Hearts And Flowers"
has the voice of Mayall on the telephone officially sacking Hartley, albeit
tongue-in-cheek, while the closing track "Sacked" has Hartley dismissing
Mayall! The music in-between features some of the best ever late 60s
jazz-influenced blues, and the album remains an undiscovered classic. The
band for the first album comprised: Miller Anderson,
guitar and vocals, the late Gary Thain (b. New Zealand d. 19 March 1976;
bass), later with Uriah Heep; Peter
Dines (organ) and Spit James (guitar). Later members to join Hartley's fluid
lineup included Mick Weaver (aka Wynder K.
Frog) organ,
Henry Lowther (b. 11 July 1941, Leicester, England; trumpet/violin), Jimmy
Jewell (saxophone), Johnny Almond (flute), Jon Hiseman and Harry Beckett.
Hartley, often dressed as an American Indian, sometimes soberly, sometimes
in full head-dress and war-paint, was a popular attraction on the small club
scene. His was one of the few British bands to play the Woodstock
Festival, where his critics compared him favourably with Blood Sweat
And Tears. "The Battle Of NW6" in 1969 further enhanced his club
reputation, although chart success still eluded him. By the time of the third
album both Lowther and Jewell had departed, although Hartley always maintained
that his band was like a jazz band, in that musicians would come and go and
be free to play with other aggregations.
Dave Caswell and Lyle Jenkins came in and made "The Time Is Near". This album demonstrated Miller Anderson's fine songwriting ability, and long-time producer Neil Slaven's excellent production. They were justly rewarded when the album briefly nudged its way into the UK and US charts. Subsequent albums lost the fire that Hartley kindled on the first three, although the formation of his Little Big Band and the subsequent live album had some fine moments. The recording at London's Marquee club saw the largest ever band assembled on the tiny stage, almost the entire British jazz/rock fraternity seemed to be present, including Chris Mercer, Lynn Dobson, Ray Warleigh, Barbara Thompson, and Derek Wadsworth. Regrettably Hartley has been largely inactive for many years apart from the occasional tour with John Mayall and sessions with Michael Chapman.
Albums:
Keef Hartley Band
Halfbreed (1969, DERAM SML1037)
Battle Of NW6 (1970, DERAM SML1054)
The Time Is Near (1970, DERAM SML1071)
Overdog (1971, DERAM SDL2)
Little Big Band (1971, DERAM SDL4)
Seventy Second Brave (1972, DERAM SDL9)
Keef Hartley solo album
Lancashire Hustler (1973, DERAM SDL13)
CD: Walhalla WH 90339, 2004
Dog Soldier
Dog Soldier (1975, United Artists, UAS29769)
CD: Mason Records MR 90330, 2004
Compilations:
The Best Of Keef Hartley (1974, 2LP, DERAM DPA3011/2)
Not Foolish Not Wise (Mooncrest, CrestCD 043Z, 1999)
(from "The Guinness Who's Who of Seventies Music", Guinness
Publishing, UK, ISBN: 0-85112-727-4)