Bill MacCormick (801, Phil Manzanera, Quiet Sun)

A composer, collaborator, session player, and band-member, Bill MacCormick anchored some of the most influential and groundbreaking slabs of the “Canterbury Scene” – the late ’60s, early-to-mid ’70s period centered in Kent, England wherein musicians created a unique blend of progressive, jazz, and psychedelia. 

 

To my ears, among the most stellar of Bill’s sides is 801 Live: a collaborative effort of MacCormick, Phil Manzanera, Brian Eno, Simon Philips, Francis Monkman, and Lloyd Watson. Captured at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall 3 September 1976, MacCormick is up in the mix, plying soulful grooves and countermelodies with an incredibly punchy Precision bass tone which can only be described as “funky prog-rock.” MacCormick anchored several Manzanera ensembles on various album projects over the years including Diamond Head, K-Scope, Listen Now, and 6PM.  

 

Bill’s distinctive rhythm & blues approach to the genre was unique, as evidenced on such watershed albums by Quiet Sun (Mainstream), Brian Eno (Here Come the Warm Jets), and Robert Wyatt (Nothing Can Stop Us, Matching Mole), to cite a select few.

 

Following his music career, MacCormick ventured into politics, and journalism – authoring books on the London 56th Infantry, and the Battle of Somme.

 

Bill MacCormick Sound & Vision…

 

Quiet Sun: “Mummy Was An Asteroid, Daddy Was A Small Non-Stick Kitchen Utensil” https://youtu.be/RTxCxzFcawU?si=M_1X5T8eTqRjuMpj

 

801: “Tomorrow Never Knows” https://youtu.be/NVL2S5y5wJE

 

Phil Manzanera’s 801 “Listen Now” https://youtu.be/D42b2xpHeO8

 

Phil Manzanera “Wish You Well” https://youtu.be/wUpnIeEnMSc?si=vfIhDvZSP8qSBMzR

 

Chucho Merchan (Eurythmics, Pete Townshend, EBTG, David Gilmour)

A first call session cat, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, band-leader, solo recording artist, and human and animals rights activist; Bogota born Jesus Alfredo “Chucho” Merchan is among the instrument’s most prolific players.

 

Merchan has forged grooves incorporating fretless, slap/pop style, jazz , Latin, funk, punk, soul, and permutations thereof  with Everything But the Girl, The Dream Academy, Pete Townshend, Thomas Dolby,  Eurythmics, Billy Bragg, The Pretenders, David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, Sam Brown, and Robert Wyatt, to cite a very, very select few.

 

Chucho Merchan Sound & Vision:

 

Chucho Merchan: “Pachamadre Mamatierra”  https://youtu.be/uBTv4a6vQqE

 

David Gilmour for “Wish You Were Here” courtesy of Chucho Merchan YouTube page: https://youtu.be/CYUTMzgQtXQ

 

Pete Townshend’s Deep End courtesy of Chucho Merchan YouTube: https://youtu.be/SYP0qzw-tbI

 

Sal Maida (Roxy Music, Sparks)

By Thomas Semioli

He’s had quite a life in rock and roll…and he’s still going strong on record and on the bandstand.

Salvatore Maida was among the stellar bassists employed by one of the most influential collectives in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, Roxy Music.

And he anchored one of the great lost glam pop ensembles of the 1970s – Milk ‘n’ Cookies.

Maida, who migrated to London from Little Italy at the onset of the glam rock movement to pursue his craft, shines on two stunning tracks which outstrip their respective studio versions – “Pyjamarama” and “Chance Meeting” – included on the iconic ensemble’s only live collection released during their 1970s reign as vanguards and innovators.

Utilizing a plectrum and a 1965 Fender Precision, and Dan Electro Longhorn, Sal lives for the pocket with a penchant for plying inventive upper register countermelodies.

Maida, who is also a writer/producer, additionally worked craft with the Sparks (Big Beat / 1976), David Lowery (The Palace Guards/ 2011), and Edward Rogers, among many others.

Sal was also a member of Cracker and appears on Greenland (2006) Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey (2009). Sal is married to singer songwriter, recording artist Lisa Burns, with whom he has collaborated with on several projects including her solo sides Unadorned (2004) and The Last Day of Winter (2014) by George Usher and Lisa Burns, among others . 

But don’t let me tell you about Sal, read his extraordinary autobiography Four Strings, Phony Proof, and 300 45s: Adventures from Roxy Music, Sparks, & Milk N’ Cookies (Perfect Press)

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Dig Sal Maida on Know Your Bass Player On Film Season One – 2015 New York City, Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/3lp6Wpb