THE GRAHAM BOND ORGANISATION An important, under-appreciated figure of early
British R&B, Graham Bond is known in the U.S., if at all, for heading the group that Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker played in before they joined Cream. Originally an alto sax jazz player, Bond was voted Britain's 'New Jazz Star' in 1961. In their prime, the Graham Bond Organization played rhythm & blues with a strong jazzy flavour, emphasizing Bond's demonic organ and gruff vocals. Arguably the band would have been better served if Bruce had been lead singer. Surprisingly he rarely featured in their recordings. Nevertheless, the band's best records were admirably tough British R&B/Rock and Jazz & Soul influenced. While Bond has sometimes been labelled a pioneer of Jazz- Rock, in reality he was much closer to Rock than Jazz. Band Members
Graham Bond Ginger Baker Jack Bruce Dick Heckstall-Smith John McLaughlin |
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