Biography
Born on 8 March 1944 in Preston, Lancashire, England, Keef Hartley passed away on 27 November 2011. In the late 1960s the Keef Hartley Band, working in tandem with Colosseum, fused jazz and rock in ways that suited the British progressive audience. Already seasoned by years on the road as Rory Storm And The Hurricanes’ drummer after Ringo Starr’s exit, Hartley joined the London R&B outfit the Artwoods—whose members included future Deep Purple mainstay Jon Lord—once Merseybeat faded; he appears on their sole LP, Art Gallery, now prized by collectors. He next entered John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers during one of the bandleader’s strongest stretches, contributing economical, precisely timed drumming to both Crusade and Diary Of A Band. The brass-heavy instrumental “Hartley Quits” on John Mayall’s Bare Wires alludes to his departure, yet the amicable ribbing with his former employer carried over into Hartley’s debut Halfbreed. That record opens with “Hearts And Flowers,” featuring Mayall’s voice on the phone delivering a mock dismissal, and closes with “Sacked,” in which Hartley returns the favour; between these bookends lies some of the finest late-1960s jazz-tinged blues, rendering the album an overlooked classic.
The first album’s line-up comprised Miller Anderson (born 12 April 1945 in Johnston, Renfrewshire, Scotland; guitar and vocals), Gary Thain (born 15 May 1948 in Wellington, New Zealand, died 8 December 1975 in Norwood Green, Middlesex, England; bass), Peter Dines (born 17 December 1944 in Hertford, England, died 28 January 2004; organ) and Spit James on guitar. Subsequent arrivals in Hartley’s ever-changing roster included Mick Weaver (also known as Wynder K. Frog) on organ, Henry Lowther (born 11 July 1941 in Leicester, England; trumpet/violin), Jimmy Jewell on saxophone, Johnny Almond on flute, Jon Hiseman (guest percussion and congas) and Harry Beckett. Frequently appearing in American Indian attire—ranging from simple garb to full headdress and war paint—Hartley drew crowds on the club circuit. One of the few British acts at the Woodstock Festival, he earned favourable comparisons with Blood, Sweat And Tears. The 1969 release The Battle Of North West Six bolstered his live reputation, even though commercial chart success remained elusive. By the third album Lowther and Jewell had left, yet Hartley continued to describe his group as a jazz-style collective in which players could move freely between projects.
Dave Caswell and Lyle Jenkins joined for The Time Is Near.... The set showcased Miller Anderson’s songwriting alongside producer Neil Slaven’s polished work and briefly entered both the UK and US charts. Later records lacked the spark of the initial trilogy, although the Little Big Band project and its live album contained strong passages. Recorded at London’s Marquee, that concert assembled the largest ensemble ever to share the club’s cramped stage, drawing much of the British jazz-rock community—among them Chris Mercer, Lynn Dobson, Ray Warleigh, Barbara Thompson and Derek Wadsworth. When Seventy Second Brave appeared, Anderson had already exited under a solo contract; as primary songwriter, lead singer and lead guitarist he had supplied the band’s cohesion, which vanished at once. Subsequent releases also missed Slaven’s balanced production. Hartley and Anderson reunited briefly in 1974 as Dog Soldier, yet Hartley remained largely removed from music for years except for occasional Mayall tours and sessions with Michael Chapman. In the mid-1990s he ran a carpentry business in Preston, Lancashire; although reports suggested he no longer kept a drum kit, efforts were made at that time to reassemble the original line-up of the undervalued band, whose work merits fresh attention in the twenty-first century. The reunion did not occur, and Keef Hartley died on 27 November 2011 at the age of 67.
The first album’s line-up comprised Miller Anderson (born 12 April 1945 in Johnston, Renfrewshire, Scotland; guitar and vocals), Gary Thain (born 15 May 1948 in Wellington, New Zealand, died 8 December 1975 in Norwood Green, Middlesex, England; bass), Peter Dines (born 17 December 1944 in Hertford, England, died 28 January 2004; organ) and Spit James on guitar. Subsequent arrivals in Hartley’s ever-changing roster included Mick Weaver (also known as Wynder K. Frog) on organ, Henry Lowther (born 11 July 1941 in Leicester, England; trumpet/violin), Jimmy Jewell on saxophone, Johnny Almond on flute, Jon Hiseman (guest percussion and congas) and Harry Beckett. Frequently appearing in American Indian attire—ranging from simple garb to full headdress and war paint—Hartley drew crowds on the club circuit. One of the few British acts at the Woodstock Festival, he earned favourable comparisons with Blood, Sweat And Tears. The 1969 release The Battle Of North West Six bolstered his live reputation, even though commercial chart success remained elusive. By the third album Lowther and Jewell had left, yet Hartley continued to describe his group as a jazz-style collective in which players could move freely between projects.
Dave Caswell and Lyle Jenkins joined for The Time Is Near.... The set showcased Miller Anderson’s songwriting alongside producer Neil Slaven’s polished work and briefly entered both the UK and US charts. Later records lacked the spark of the initial trilogy, although the Little Big Band project and its live album contained strong passages. Recorded at London’s Marquee, that concert assembled the largest ensemble ever to share the club’s cramped stage, drawing much of the British jazz-rock community—among them Chris Mercer, Lynn Dobson, Ray Warleigh, Barbara Thompson and Derek Wadsworth. When Seventy Second Brave appeared, Anderson had already exited under a solo contract; as primary songwriter, lead singer and lead guitarist he had supplied the band’s cohesion, which vanished at once. Subsequent releases also missed Slaven’s balanced production. Hartley and Anderson reunited briefly in 1974 as Dog Soldier, yet Hartley remained largely removed from music for years except for occasional Mayall tours and sessions with Michael Chapman. In the mid-1990s he ran a carpentry business in Preston, Lancashire; although reports suggested he no longer kept a drum kit, efforts were made at that time to reassemble the original line-up of the undervalued band, whose work merits fresh attention in the twenty-first century. The reunion did not occur, and Keef Hartley died on 27 November 2011 at the age of 67.
Albums
