New About Thyme

New CD
Jacqui McShee's PENTANGLE
PASSE AVANT

Hello All,

Just a few words about the new album, PASSE AVANT. It was recorded near Hereford and, after a visit to the beautiful Cathedral, we decided to use part of the Mappa Mundi (housed there-in) for the CD booklet, its an amazing piece of work and well worth a visit

The album is a continuation of the ABOUT THYME project, this time with only two guests (who were both on A.T.) John Giblin -bass and Miles Bould - percussion, great performances from both. With of course the rest of the band Gerry Conway, Spencer Cozens Alan Thomson and Jerry Underwood. As last time we had our good friend and great engineer Matt Butler working his magic with his Pro Tools set up (a first for him and us).

There are four traditional tracks, The House Carpenter, which the original PENTANGLE recorded on Basket Of Light, we do this one live on gigs, so decided to include it. The Nightingale, sometimes called One Morning in May, The Gypsy Countess, a version from the south west of England, (sometimes called the Raggle Taggle Gypsies) and., Lagan Love a beautiful, haunting Irish song. There are two "covers", Jardin D’Amour a French traditional song with a lovely melody by Pierre Ben Susan (we’re great fans of his) and We’ll Be Together Again a 50’s standard that I remember my Mum and Dad had on a "78".

If any of you have teenage Sons or daughters you may understand the sentiments of track 4 That’s the way it is, this one started as a groove from Spen and Alan. Track 7 Edsong (melody written by Gerry) is about a friend of my sons’ - not the sort of friend that most parents would welcome into their homes but I have a sneaking regard for him and like him a lot, Jerry plays a great solo on this (as usual).Midnight Dance an imaginative description of an incident that happened in a hospital ward in the early hours. It ends with a great outro by Spen, vocalising. Just For You a very personal song (the melody written by Gerry). I hope you enjoy the album we had a wonderful time recording it.

All the best

JACQUI McSHEE’S PENTANGLE
PASSE - AVANT
Release date: 3rd August 1998
Park Records CD = PRKCD46

Pentangle is a name that strikes a chord - a name that came to dominate the music scene of the late sixties and early seventies. Jacqul McShee, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox had formed a unique fusion of folk and jazz, rooted as much in the music of Charlie Mingus as that of the traditional world.

Two decades later, McShee is still creating a sound that is genuinely original, this time through her own project, Jaqui McShee’s Pentangle. The core of the band came together in 1995 when Jacqui, drummer Gerry Conway and keyboard player and programmer Spencer Cozens released the About Thyme’ album to the acclaim of such diverse quarters as Q, Folk Roots and the Daily Telegraph. Amongst guests on the album (John Martyn, Ralph McTell, Albert Lee) were the two musicians who would come to complete the current line up, Jerry Underwood (tenor and soprano saxophones) and Alan Thomson (bass and guitar).

With the release of their new album Passe-Avant, (‘Go Forward’) the five create a stunning backdrop for a combination of original, traditional and contemporary material. As was ever the case, boundaries are being pushed and new directions being taken, folk songs set against exotic worldscapes, jazz sensibilities and bold fresh arrangements. At the album’s heart is McShee herself, her vocals rich and warm, drawing on the character and heritage of the songs to produce a performance of towering quality.

The band’s sound is a touch of the ancient and a touch of the modern, strangely familiar while also excitingly new. When all the various strands come together, the effect is little short of exquisite. Passe-Avant is the album that makes that connection, an album that will make a lasting impression.

JACQUI McSHEE’S PENTANGLE are available for Radio, TV and Press interviews.
For further information call JOHN DAGNELL at

PARK RECORDS, P0 BOX 651, OXFORD, 0X2 9RB
Tel: 01865 241717 Fax: 01865 204556

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Jacqui McShee`s PENTANGLE Passe Avant Park PRKCD 46 (57mins)

Thirty years after releasing their eponymous debut album, Pentangle go forward, once more, under the leadership of Jacqui McShee and produce a stunning collection of exquisite songs. McShee`s voice as haunting and clear as ever, is complemented well by the sympathetic ear of Spencer Cozens, and the understated rhythms of Gerry Conway.

These three are joined by ex-Brand X er, Jerry Underwood, Alan Thomson and Miles Bould. With such spectacular ingredients one would expect much – and that is just what one gets: exotic backdrops, driving beats, jazz tinged phrasing and ancient musical boundaries being pushed towards the Millenium.

Even better than About Thyme and equal to Basket Of Light, Jacqui McShee`s Pentangle are continuing to produce great music, and as the little man says Passe Avant. Michael Kennedy

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After all these years Pentangle can still raise a few eyebrows for all the right reasons. The formula remains essentially the same – a sensitive blending of folk and jazz – and on this occasion it is applied successful to a strong collection of original, traditional and contemporary songs. Jacqui McShee`s singing, as ever, is a delight.

Sheffield Telegraph Album of the week Steve Mangan Huddersfield FM Folk Show

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Jacqui McShee`s PENTANGLE is herself plus Gerry Conway, Spencer Cozens, Alan Thomson and Jerry Underwood. They make a very fine sound too, and this album has more to say than more recent reincarnations featuring more of the original band, although more electronic and keyboard based, with jazzy versions of folk standards, together with more exploratory material. The blend of sax and vocal work very well in this context. Well worth a try for Pentangle fans and the uninitiated. Chris Miles Shire Folk

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Now minus Bert Jansch, hence the specifying name extension, the mission statement titled Go Forward (Park) sees former jazz tones shaded towards the folkier end of their musical equation. That said, the sax appeal remains, marvellously so on the cool piano cascading purity of Gypsy Countess and Edsong, while That`s The Way It Is and Midnight Dance even lay a beats sheen across the rhythm. With McShee`s honey and woodsmoke voice on relaxed assured form, no better than the mostly unaccompanied trad ballad styled Lagan Love or the torch smouldering We`ll Be Together Again, this is their best , most focused and most rewarding work in years. Birmingham Post. MD

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