The British jazz scene has long provided a rich and varied collection of music and, in this featured article, writer Ian Mann dives into the legacy of iconic group Loose Tubes.
The 1980s witnessed something of a ‘jazz renaissance’ in the UK with the emergence of artists such as the saxophonists Courtney Pine, Andy Sheppard, Tommy Smith and Steve Williamson alongside the big bands Tomorrow’s Warriors and Loose Tubes.
Whilst Tomorrow’s Warriors has exerted a huge and ongoing influence through its educational and outreach programmes, the legacy of Loose Tubes is perhaps best recognised through the individual careers of its leading members.
The Rise of Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes emerged out of a rehearsal band assembled by the late bassist and composer Graham Collier.
Its members were young, talented and iconoclastic and their live performances became the stuff of legend. The brightly and eccentrically clothed twenty somethings mocked traditional big band conventions, their irreverent, high energy approach attracting a young audience who might otherwise not have been drawn to jazz.
It’s hard to credit now, but such was the impact of Loose Tubes that they even began to attract the attention of the mainstream media, culminating in an appearance on prime time TV on the Wogan magazine programme.
Other television appearances included a 1986 live show from Bath Festival for the BBC and a 1987 documentary for ITV / Channel Four.
1987 also saw Loose Tubes become the first jazz orchestra to be featured on the BBC Proms, when they performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
The Loose Tubes Sound
Humour was always an important part of the Loose Tubes ethos and fed into their music, which embraced a whole gamut of influences: jazz, contemporary classical, and various strands of ‘world music’, particularly the sounds of Africa and Latin America.
Behind the jocular facade the band was overloaded with musical talent. All of its members were highly accomplished instrumentalists and the twenty one strong line up also included some seriously talented composers.
In the band’s early days the majority of the writing was done by keyboard player Django Bates and bassist Steve Berry. The band’s three self-released album, though, include compositions by trumpeters Chris Batchelor, Dave De Fries and John Eacott, flautist Eddie Parker, trombonist John Harborne and guitarist John Parricelli.
The unique sound of Loose Tubes was documented over the course of these recordings:
- Loose Tubes (1985)
- Delightful Precipice (1986)
- Open Letter (1988)
It’s perhaps no surprise that the last of these was produced by Miles Davis producer Teo Macero, reflecting the group’s importance by the late 1980s.
Sadly none of these superb releases have ever been re-issued on CD, presumably for copyright or other legal reasons. I’m proud to say that I’m still the owner of the original vinyls, these now nearing their fortieth birthday.
Following the band’s inevitable demise – there was just too much individual talent in the ranks for it to remain viable as a collective – many of its members have gone on to have stellar solo careers.
All supremely gifted composer and creative improvisors, the most notable of these are arguable Django Bates, Chris Batchelor and the trio of saxophonists, Iain Ballamy, Mark Lockheart and Julian Arguelles.
Loose Tubes: The Reunion
The initial edition of Loose Tubes came to an end in 1990 but, in 2014, the band re-convened to celebrate its 30th birthday with a series of Festival performances and a week long residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London – very much the band’s ‘spiritual home’.
The reunion was more than just an exercise in nostalgia, though.
Not wishing to be regarded as their own ‘tribute band’ the members came up with new material specially commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and the set lists included new works from Bates, Berry, Batchelor and Parker, all of which compared well with past glories.
Although the original 1980s Loose Tubes albums remain unavailable, Django Bates has released three Loose Tubes live recordings on his own Lost Marble record label.
“Dancing On Frith Street” (2010) and “Sad Afrika” (2012) both document 1990 live performances at Ronnie Scott’s and feature a selection of 1980s Loose Tubes classics. “Arriving” (2015) features more from Ronnie’s alongside studio recordings of the new works commissioned by the BBC.
All three releases are highly recommended and capture the essence of the unique musical institution that was Loose Tubes.
Even combines, the total output of Loose Tubes is relatively small. However, for those looking to dig deeper into the evolution of the modern UK jazz scene, it’s an essential discography.
Looking for more? Join Ian for a closer look at some of the essential British jazz albums released by Loose Tubes alumi next…