Celebrate the enduring legacy of the Folk musician with Martin Simpson, Jacqui McShee, Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Kathryn Williams and Sam Lee.
Bert Jansch is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential songwriters and guitarists of all time.
A leading light of the 1960s British Folk revival and a founding member of Folk Jazz supergroup Pentangle, his career spanned five decades, inspiring generations of musicians with his groundbreaking acoustic guitar technique and emotive songs.
A stellar lineup including his friends, fans and collaborators celebrate his extraordinary musical legacy in this concert marking what would have been his 80th birthday.
The artists appearing include Chris Brain; Bernard Butler; Sam Grassie; Brigid Mae Power and Steve Gunn; Sarathy Korwar; Sam Lee; Jacqui McShee and Mike Piggott and Kevin Dempsey; Robert Plant’s Saving Grace; Daisy Rickman; Martin Simpson and Louis Campbell; Kathryn Williams; James Yorkston, Ranjana Ghatak and Jon Thorne; and compère Stewart Lee.
Jansch had a long history of performing at the Royal Festival Hall: Pentangleâs first major performance took place here in 1967 and they recorded part of their “Sweet Child” album here in 1968.
The original Pentangle lineup reformed to play the same hall exactly 40 years later and it was a Pentangle show at the Royal Festival Hall in August 2011 that proved to be his last performance.
Presented by Eat Your Own Ears, Earth Records and The Bert Jansch Foundation in association with the Southbank Centre.
At the same time Earth Recordings have reissued the album “Avocet” for the 40th anniversary edition on October 27, 2023.
– Limited white vinyl edition with downloadable bonus tracks
– Newly expanded audio
– New liner notes from Pentangle bandmate and collaborator Danny Thompson
Expanded 40th anniversary edition, featuring newly discovered live tracks and notes from Pentangle bandmate (and Avocet collaborator) Danny Thompson. Bert Jansch was often quoted as saying âIâm not playing for anyone, just myselfâ and this feels no more apparent than on 1979âs “Avocet,” his beautifully meditative paean to British birds. This isnât to say that Jansch was throwing commercial success to the wind, or was unaware of his audience, more that this album feels like a uniquely personal reflection of him. (The subject of British birds is one that Jansch held close to his heart. Indeed, just preceding this album was his 1978 split 7â single with Shirley Collins – with proceeds in aid of the RSPB).
For fans of Jansch this is often the album that is singled out as his best work. The freedoms of a post-Pentangle career are much in evidence; Folk Rock and even trad Folk give way to an album that is not only without lyrical accompaniment but really quite orchestral, classical even, in its composition. There are surprises in particular in “Lapwing” (a dirge-like waltz that wouldnât be out of place on a Nils Frahm album) and “Bittern” (which speaks of Arthur Russellâs more Experimental pieces).
Featuring ex-bandmate Danny Thompson, alongside Martin Jenkins (Dando Shaft, amongst others) with sleeve notes by Jansch aficionado Colin Harper (author of “Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues revival“). This new edition also comprises three never-before heard tracks, recorded live in Italy in 1977 with Martin Jenkins (“Bittern;” “Kingfisher;” “Avocet“), as well as Danny Thompsonâs recollections of the making of “Avocet,” recorded by Dave Thompson (Mojo Magazine) in typical style. Remastered by Brian Pyle from original tapes.
Purchase the album here: https://bertjansch.bandcamp.com/album/avocet-40th-anniversary-edition
Tracklist:
