Zzebra

During the 1970s, Zzebra stood out as an elite British progressive rock ensemble that operated like a supergroup by merging jazz, rock, and African rhythms into one expansive fusion. Its founding lineup brought together guitarist Terry Smith, previously of If, saxophonist Dave Quincy, another former member of If, flutist and saxophonist Lasisi “Loughty” Amao, once with Osibisa, pianist and singer Gus Yeadon, formerly of the Love Affair, bassist John McCoy, and drummer Liam Genockey. This particular configuration committed the self-titled Zzebra to tape and issued it in 1974. Smith exited while work proceeded on the next album, Panic, making way for guitarist Steve Byrd. Panic first surfaced in 1975; two further albums followed the same year under the titles Lost World and Take It or Leave It, by which point keyboardist Tommy Eyre and vocalist Alan Marshall had entered the ranks. That concentrated output signaled the close of Zzebra’s run, after which the group slowly dissolved. In the digital era the band’s entire catalog has returned to circulation, frequently augmented by bonus material taken from McCoy’s private tape archive.