The
evolution of Jacqui McShee's PentangleThe
evolution of Jacqui McShee's PentangleThe original Pentangle, comprising Jacqui McShee, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox, was the most creative and innovative band on the folk scene in the late 1960s and early '70s. Two key elements of Pentangle were the unique vocal talent of Jacqui McShee and the fusion, not of folk and rock, but folk and jazz. These elements are as strong as ever in the latest evolution of the band, known now as Jacqui's McShee's Pentangle.
Right from the beginning, Pentangle embraced the music of Charles Mingus and Miles Davis alongside traditional folk songs and their own original Compositions. Listen to 'Light Flight' and 'Train Song' from Pentangle's hit album, 'Basket Of Light' (1969) and you will hear Dave Brubeck-like time signatures and Jacqui using her voice more like a jazz instrumentalist than a folk singer. Then listen to 'So Early In The Spring' (from Sweet child', 1968) and 'When I Was In My Prime' (from 'Cruel Sister',1970) and marvel at Jacqui's pure, unaccompanied voice on these traditional songs. Then there was her distinctive interpretation of the blues on 'Turn Your Money Green' and 'I've Got A Feeling' (both on 'Sweet Child').
Pentangle continued to create music that was innovative and boundary-stretching, yet melodic and accessible, through the '80s and into the '90s. There were changes of personnel: Mike Piggott contributed some jazzy violin, there was Nigel Portman Smith on keyboards and bass, and Peter Kirtley on guitars and vocals. But McShee and Jansch remained as joint leaders and the ideas and spirit of Pentangle continued. Gerry Conway, a founder member of Fotheringay, who also worked with Cat Stevens, Richard Thompson and John Martyn, took over the drum chair in 1987 and is featured on Pentangle's albums 'So Early In The Spring', 'Think Of Tomorrow', 'One More Road' and 'Pentangle Live, 1994'.
Relishing the prospect of even more artistic freedom, and drawing on ideas from a wider group of musicians, Jacqui McShee formed her own band in 1995 with Gerry Conway plus Spencer Cozens the keyboard player who has worked with John Martyn, Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead), Carol Decker, Julia Fordham and led his own group, Peoplespeak. The McShee-Conway-Cozens band recorded an album, 'About Thyme', which features the saxophone of Jerry Underwood, whose jazz c.v includes Tim Richards' Spirit Level, the Carla Bley Big Band and Andy Sheppard's Big Co-Motion.
'About Thyme' also attracted guest appearances by Ralph McTell, Albert Lee, John Martyn, Mike Mainieri and the kora player Ravi. The juxtaposition of McShee's voice against saxophone, keyboards, percussion and Eastern sounds produces music that is stunningly original, yet whose roots can be traced back to 'Basket Of Light'. 'About Thyme' received excellent reviews in Time Out, Q Magazine and Folk Roots, where it topped the folk album chart in November 1995.
The band which evolved from 'About Thyme', Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, is a five-piece consisting of Jacqui McShee (vocals), Spencer Cozens (keyboards), Gerry Conway (drums), Jerry Underwood (tenor and soprano saxophones) and Alan Thomson (bass and guitar). Thomson has previously recorded or toured with Robert Palmer, Rick Wakeman, Andy Summers, Bo Diddley, John Martyn. Julia Fordham, Steps Ahead and Peoplespeak.
As well as the new material from 'About Thyme', the band's live performances include some brilliant new versions of old Pentangle favorites. These are not simply nostalgic re-plays but imaginative new arrangements. It's as if the songs have given birth to sons and daughters with a recognisable family likeness but personalities of their own.
Peter Noad.