Back Door (jazz trio)

Back Door was a British jazz-rock band that was active 1971-1977. The trio, which played an idiosyncratic mix between rock, avant-garde jazz and blues, even therefore attracted attention because seemingly essential, usually the dominant fusion sound instruments such as guitars and keyboards were missing.

History

Back Door was established in 1971 in the British Province: Colin Hodgkinson and Ron Aspery sought out drummer Tony Hicks to pursue his own musical interests besides their bread work in dance bands of Eric Delaney. They appeared regularly in a pub, The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge in Yorkshire. The owner of the pub held out the funding for the production of a self-titled LP of the trio, the 1972 self-published. The album was also sold for a positive review in the journal New Musical Express in London, where it caught the attention of Pete King. He engaged the group for two weeks at Ronnie Scott 's Jazz Club, where they played in front of Chick Corea's Return to Forever. After these concerts, the band signed a contract with Warner Brothers, where the first album was released again. Back Door landed at the Jazz Poll of Melody Makers behind Soft Machine and Nucleus in third place.

On the following two albums the sound of the band, who captivated with the virtuosity of Hodgkinson, has been extended through song and guest musicians; Keyboardist McRae played some concerts in 1974 with the group. The band played as the opening act for Miles Davis ( also in France ), and Emerson, Lake & Palmer ( in North America). On other trips through Europe, the band appeared together with Alexis Korner and then in North America with the J. Geils Band. The album Activate ( 1976) was no guest musicians, just in ( umbesetzten ) Trio. In 1977, the group split up, because there was no regular opportunities to perform more.

1986, the founding members met for a concert at Ronnie Scott's, addressed the participants and a short UK tour. The band in 2003 took another album Askin ' the Way, and played a few concerts in Yorkshire; by the disease and the end of 2003 the death of Aspery it could be no more major tours. In 2005, some concerts, played among others at the Brecon Jazz Festival and the Hull Jazz Festival with saxophonist Rod Mason.

The Colin Hodgkinson Group with Rod Mason and drummer Paul Robinson, the 2008 album Back Door Too! published, is regarded as the successor of the band.

Discography

• Back Door (1972 )
• 8th Street Nites (1973 )
• The Human Bed (1973-1974)
• Another Fine Mess (1975 )
• Activate ( 1976)
• Askin ' the Way ( 2003)