Sights Unseen

As a major fan of the late, great bassist, singer, and composer Jack Bruce, as soon as I heard about the new Smiles & Grins – Broadcast Sessions 1970-2001 box set I ordered a copy – without digging too deeply into the content lineup. After all, with four CDs and two Blu-Rays, there was a lot of content to sort through, and I decided I’d dig into it once the box arrived in hand.

Four CD and two Blu-Ray Jack Bruce compilation “Smiles & Grins – Broadcast Sessions 1970-2001”

But things have been hectic on numerous fronts, including the Modern Listener Publishing realm, so it was weeks after the collection’s arrival before I finally had a chance to really assess the six discs.

Simply put: I was astounded to discover that I was now able to see two of Jack’s bands that I consider legendary. Not just legendary, but lineups that I had never known or even imagined were captured visually. One is from 1970 when Jack played in the Tony Williams Lifetime, with the amazing drummer who had risen to prominence with Miles Davis. Joining Jack and Tony was the incredible progressive organist Larry Young, and the typically astounding John McLaughlin, wielding a highly-modified Les Paul Jr months before he formed Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Tony Williams in 1970 leading Tony Williams Lifetime. Video image: BBC Studios/Esoteric Recordings

Larry Young in 1970 with Tony Williams Lifetime. Video image: BBC Studios/Esoteric Recordings

John McLaughlin in 1970 with Tony Williams Lifetime. Video image: BBC Studios/Esoteric Recordings

Jack Bruce in 1970 with Tony Williams Lifetime. Video image: BBC Studios/Esoteric Recordings

Then there is the Jack Bruce Band of 1975. I was especially excited at the time when I got word of this band due to the presence of Jimi Hendrix’s long-term percussion ally, Mitch Mithcell. Though Mitchell did not last long in this group, after it departure it remained anchored by the highly influential jazz composer and keyboardist Carla Bley, along with Mick Taylor who had just left the Rolling Stones. Ronnie Leahy also plays piano and synth, and on drums – Bruce Gary. Yep, the same guy who would later play on “My Sharona” as a member of The Knack. Before he cut his hair and tied on a skinny tie, he was a big-haired, formidably imposing fusion drummer. Who knew?

Jack Bruce and Mick Taylor in 1975. Video image: BBC Studios/Esoteric Recordings

We live in an era when more and more unreleased material is finally seeing the light of day. Case in point – the terrifically-delayed collection of Jimi Hendrix’s work at his Electric Lady Studios, which will finally be available many months after word leaked out of its existence. Thanks to releases like that and this fantastic Jack Bruce compilation, it’s a wonderful and unexpected time to be able to enjoy so many of these sonic and visual treats.