The Soft Machine

Yours truly, witnessed an amazing concert, last night, at the Turf Club in St. Paul, featuring the 50th anniversary of prog rock and jazz fusion legends, from England, The Soft Machine.  From their beginnings in 1968, they were one of the bands from the United Kingdom to popularize electric, experimental jazz and prog rock.  The late, great guitarist, Allan Holdsworth, was part of their original lineup, and last night, at least one of their original members, bassist Roy Babbington featured prominently.  The full lineup for their 50th anniversary tour (which wrapped, last night, at the Turf Club), includes Babbington on bass, Gary Husband on drums, John Etheridge on guitar, and Theo Travis on woodwinds, including tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute.

Opening for The Soft Machine, is jazz musician and composer, Beledo.  Beledo and Soft Machine did a joint tour, as they share slots on the label, Moonjune Records.  For most of his set, Beledo played his own instrumental compositions on either acoustic guitar, or piano.  More details are to come, about his recording.

Beledo composed and arranged every tune on the recording.  Many of them were played by him, solo, opening for Soft Machine.  Beledo's band on the record includes:

Beledo: Spanish guitar, electric guitar, archtop electric guitar, violin, keyboards, Rhodes piano, Mini Moog, electric bass, vocals

Lincoln Goines: electric bass

Gary Husband: drums

Additional musicians, on a track called "Budjanaji".

Dewa Budjana: electric guitar
Rudy Zulkarnaen: electric bass
Endang Ramdan: Sundanese kedang percussion
Cucu Kurnia: Sundanese kedang, & metal percussion

As for Soft Machine, they played all of their most well known compositions, including a medley of said compositions for the encore.  The musicianship in Soft Machine is incredible, and so is the chemistry between the band members.  Roy Babbington on bass, locked down the groove, and the others added their own contributions with some great solos on guitar and saxophones.  Theo Travis' tone on tenor and soprano, both, was superb.  Incidentally, Theo Travis, worked with former Soft Machine band member, the late, great Daevid Allan, on some of the projects the guitarist/bassist/vocalist did, before his passing.  Also fondly remembered are late, great saxophonist/keyboardist Elton Dean, who passed away in 2015, and the late, great Hugh Hopper, who passed on in 2009, and who played guitar, bass, and saxophones. 

The old and the new, were interspersed throughout the set.  In an adventurous, eleven song set, that truly did take the diehard fans, on a journey, here is what was played.

1. Hidden Details
2. The Man Who Waved at Trains
3. Life On Bridges
4. The Tale of Taliesin
5. Song of Aeolus
6. Gesolreut
7. Fourteen Hour Dream
8. Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1)
9. Kings And Queens
10. The Relegation of Pluto/Tarabos/Sideburn/Hazard Profile (Part 1) *four song medley
11. One Glove

As luck would have it, yours truly had a chance to meet not only Beledo, but also, 3/4 of Soft Machine, getting to have conversations about music with Roy Babbington, John Etheridge, and Theo Travis, having the three of them also sign a copy of the new record.  The track listing on "Hidden Details" is identical to the set list played at The Turf Club.

1. Hidden Details
2. The Man Who Waved At Trains
3. Ground Lift
4. Heart Off Guard
5. Broken Hill
6. Flight of The Jett
7. One Glove
8. Out Bloody Intro
9. Out Bloody Rageous (Part 1)
10. Drifting White
11. Life On Bridges
12. Fourteen Hour Dream
13. Breathe

A fantastic concert.  Definitely check out the whole body of work by The Soft Machine, from the past 50 years.  Stay tuned, as there will eventually be a Spotify Sunday listing, based on The Soft Machine.  Yours truly, looks forward to sharing more of their music.