Quintessence (English band)
- Shiva Shankar ( Phil Jones; - vocals, keyboard, percussion )
- Sambhu Babaji ( Richard Vaughan, - bass, guitar, jaw harp, stories )
- Maha Dev ( Dave Codling; - rhythm guitar)
- Allan Mostert ( lead guitar, Vina, acoustic guitar )
- Jeremy " Jake" Milton (drums, percussion)
- Sambhu Babaji
- Keith Hale (keyboards)
- Rolf Fichter (synthesizer, vocals)
- Klaus Fichter (drums)
- Maha Dev ( 1972)
- Allan Mostert (1975? )
- Jake Milton (1975? )
Quintessence is an English progressive rock band of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Band History
The band Quintessence was formed in April 1969 by a native of Australia jazz flutist Ronald Rothfield in Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill. Ladbroke Grove was considered the stronghold of the hippie scene in this corner of London rehearsing at that time, among other things Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, T. Rex and Steamhammer. His fellow musicians found Rothfield via advertisements in Melody Maker, England's most influential, weekly music magazine. From more than 200 applicants recruited Rothfield an international cast: the Australian Phil Jones, the Canadian Jake Milton, the American Richard Vaughn, the Englishman Dave Codling and a native of Mauritius Allan Mostert.
Shortly after the founding of the band the spiritually interested musicians came in contact with the Hindu priest Swami Ambikananda who gave four of the musicians with new Hindu names. The origin of the band members stood then as follows:
- Raja Ram ( Ronald Rothfield ) - (flute, percussion, bells, tubular bells )
- Shiva Shankar ( Phil Jones ) - ( vocals, keyboard, percussion )
- Sambhu Babaji ( Richard Vaughan ) - ( bass, guitar, jaw harp, stories )
- Maha Dev ( Dave Codling ) - ( rhythm guitar)
- Allan Mostert - ( lead guitar, Vina, acoustic guitar )
- Jeremy " Jake" Milton - (drums, percussion)
The first appearance of Quintessence was in 1969 at Covent Garden, the band appeared in a row on a regular basis during the " implosion Nights" titled events in the famous Roundhouse and was seen at open air concerts in Hyde Park. Even Swami Ambikananda and his ashram were considered as group members and worked occasionally on stage with. Anyway you put in concerts increased emphasis on the zeitgeist appropriate decoration of the stage with velvet and batik cloths, incense, etc. The concerts were often initiated by extravagant improvisations on the sitar and tabla, as well as mostly improvised generally during the concerts.
Since Quintessence linked to independent manner folk rock, psychedelic rock and progressive rock with Indian elements, they quickly attracted the attention of record company Iceland Records, which in the vicinity of the sample space of the band had their domicile. In September 1969, the first album, " In Blissful Company" appeared. The elaborately designed gatefold sleeve, the band presented in the style of a commune with friends and families, so there a total of 28 adults, 12 children and some dogs can be seen.
Under the leadership of Iceland Records, where at the same time, Jethro Tull and King Crimson were under contract until 1971, two more albums were produced: " Quintessence " (1970) and " Dive Deep" (1971). The band also appeared frequently on continue, including twice at the Glastonbury Festival and Fair three times at the Royal Albert Hall.
1972 he moved to RCA, where released yet two more albums in the same year: "Self " and " Indweller ". The complete second album of " Self" is an excerpt from the concert in December 1971 again, which is the ability of the band to sophisticated improvisations impressive.
In the course of 1972 but left Shiva Shankar and Maha Dev Quintessence and founded the short-lived band " Kala ", the 1973 eponymous album " Kala " published on the label Bradley, but otherwise not being exhibited.
The quartet shrunken cast of Quintessence could not connect to earlier successes and degenerated into insignificance without Shiva and Maha Dev. After even Allan Mostert and Jake Milton left the band, which now by Keith Hale (keyboards) and brothers Rolf (synthesizer, vocals) and Klaus Fichter were at Quintessence in 1975 remained of the founding members only Raja Ram and Sambhu Babaji ( drums) were accompanied. Smaller performances took place at least until 1980, then it became quiet around Quintessence.
Founder Raja Ram withdrew temporarily completely from the music scene back and appeared only in the early 90s back when he produced Psytrance for the label Dragonfly and then in 1994 his own label TIP Records (now TIP World) founded, where he has since under different project name and most published records again in collaboration with other musicians.
Phil Jones ( " Shiva " ) entered service in the 1980s as a rock musician in various bands. Born in Australia, then discovered the didgeridoo for themselves and with this instrument published meditation music. In 2000 he organized didgeridoo -based yoga classes and published the ethno rock album " Samadhi ".
Shiva's Quintessence
In 2003, the cooperation of Shiva with the Swiss musician Rudra Beauvert, which mingled with his electronic instruments the old Quintessence style with influences from techno and trance area began. Even the former rhythm guitarist Maha Dev ( Dave Codling ) could be obtained for this project. 2003 saw this lineup under the name " Shiva Shakti " a CD out since 2005 is called the formation " Shiva's Quintessence ".
Discography
Quintessence
- In Blissful Company ( Iceland Records 1969)
- Quintessence ( Iceland Records 1970)
- Dive Deep ( Iceland Records 1971)
- Self (RCA 1972)
- Indweller (RCA 1972)
Follow-up projects (excerpt)
- Kala - Kala ( Bradley 1973)
- Phil Jones ( Shiva) - Samadhi
- Shiva Shakti - Shiva Shakti ( Shiva, Mystic Records 2003)
- Shiva's Quintessence - Cosmic Surfer ( Shiva, Eclectic Discs 2005)