French late 1970’s Jazz-Rock super-group.
Spheroe is a French Jazz-Rock/Progressive group formed in 1972 in Lyon by Michel Perez (guitar), Gérard Maimone (keyboards), Patrick Garel (drums) and Rido Bayonne (bass), all excellent technicians of their instrument respectively. Spheroe is undoubtedly one of the best groups of the genre to have existed during the 70s but unfortunately, except in the restricted circle of fans of the genre, they has remained completely unknown to the general public. Since its formation, Spheroe has been primarily a live group which gave numerous concerts during the first five years of its existence. His first eponymous album, issued on the Cobra label, was not released until 1977; it was subsequently reissued on CD by Musea Records. Strongly influenced by groups like Return To Forever or Brand X, Spheroe plays very energetic and quite sharp Jazz-Rock-fusion with an impressive groove.
The 2nd album “Primadonna” was released the following year. Furthermore, Spheroe composed and performed the music for two plays, “Palazzo Mentale” and “King Lear” at the request of George Lavaudant, French playwright, actor and theater director. In 1979 the group disbanded.
Purchase “Spheroe” on Bandcamp: https://musearecords.bandcamp.com/album/spheroe
Tracklist:
01. Black Hill Samba 12:04
02. Contine 02:48
03. Vendredo Au Golf Drouit 06:23
04. Chattanooga 12:54
05. Pu Ping Song 06:03
06. Deconnection 03:15
07. Ballade For Wendy 01:36
Credits:
Arranged By: Spheroe
Alain Mazet / Bass (Track 2)
Patrick “Cactus” Garel / Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Producer
Michel Perez / Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer
Denis Brazier /
Alain Robert, Bernard Gueffier / Executive-Producer [Re-release]
Patrick Alexandre / Illustration [Drawing]
Francis Grosse / Liner Notes, Executive-Producer [Re-release]
Rido Bayonne / Percussion, Bass
Gérard Maimone / Vibraphone, Piano, Marimba, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Korg, Micro-Moog, String-Ensemble]
This CD includes all the tracks from the eponymous album “Spheroe.” Due to the loss of the master tape, this reissue has been realized from a new record. The sound and the taking off all the surface noises have been improved in the specialised studio SON’ART, Metz.
Recorded and mixed at Diagram Studio, Saint-Etienne, France in 1975.
Originally released in 1977 on Cobra.