PENTANGLE

Pentangle were classed as a folk group but not in the classic style, they gleaned inspiration from a mix of Blues, Jazz and pop as well as traditional folk music. Along with Fairport Convention, were one of the most important bands of the 1960s British folk revival.

Formed in 1967, by folk musicians Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, an established figure on the traditional folk circuit vocalist Jacqui McShee, who had been working with John for a year and had appeared on his album 'Another Monday' was added to the line-up along with Danny Thompson (bass) and Terry Cox (drums), both formally of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated.

Their first three albums The Pentangle (1968), Sweet Child (1968), and Basket of Light (1969) were arguably their best efforts, under producer Shel Talmy the band could do no wrong in its mastery of diverse styles and material. Thompson and Cox gave even the traditional folk ballads a jazz swing and verve; the guitar interplay of Jansch and Renbourn was brilliant, each complementing and enhancing the other were expertly captured on The Pentangle album, where the acoustic interplay between Jansch and Renbourn was brilliantly underscored by Thompson's sympathetic support and McShee's beautiful vocals, original material balanced songs pulled from folk's heritage ('Let No Man Steal Your Thyme', 'Brunton Town'), plus the inclusion of the Staple Singers 'Hear My Call' This was expanded on the double-set Sweet Child, which included two compositions by jazz bassist Charles Mingus, 'Haitian Fight Song' and 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat'. The group enjoyed considerable commercial success with Basket Of Light, which included 'Light Flight', the theme song to the UK television series, Take Three Girls.

However, despite an undoubted dexterity and the introduction of muted electric instruments, subsequent releases were marred by a sense of sterility, and lacked the passion of concurrent releases undertaken by the two guitarists.
Pentangle was disbanded in 1972, following which Thompson began a partnership with John Martyn. Cox undertook a lucrative session career before backing French singer Charles Aznavour, and while Jansch continued his solo career, McShee fronted the John Renbourn Band between 1974 and 1981. The original Pentangle reconvened the following year for a European tour and Open The Door, although defections owing to outside commitments led to considerable changes. Pentangle continued to create music that was innovative and boundary stretching, yet melodic and accessible, through the '80s and into the '90s. There were changes of personnel: McShee, Cox and Jansch were joined by Nigel Portman-Smith (bass) and Mike Piggott for 1985's In The Round. Cox was then replaced by Gerry Conway a founder member of Fotheringay, who also worked with Cat Stevens and Piggott by Rod Clements (ex-Lindisfarne) for 1988's So Early In The Spring. Think Of Tomorrow, released three years later, saw Clements make way for guitarist Peter Kirtley. The same line-up also completed 1993's One More Road and 1994's Live. At this time Jansch once more became distracted by solo projects and the group's later shows saw him replaced by former Cat Stevens' guitarist Alun Davies.

Relishing the prospect of even more artistic freedom, and drawing on ideas from a wider group of musicians, Jacqui McShee formed her own band in 1995 with Gerry Conway plus Spencer Cozens the keyboard player who has worked with John Martyn, Mike Mainieri (Steps Ahead), Carol Decker, Julia Fordham and led his own group, Peoplespeak. The McShee-Conway-Cozens band recorded an album, 'About Thyme', which features the saxophone of Jerry Underwood, whose jazz cv includes Tim Richards' Spirit Level, the Carla Bley Big Band and Andy Sheppard's Big Co-Motion. 'About Thyme' also attracted guest appearances by Ralph McTell, Albert Lee, John Martyn, Mike Mainieri and the kora player Ravi. The juxtaposition of McShee's voice against saxophone, keyboards, percussion and Eastern sounds produces music that is stunningly original, yet whose roots can be traced back to 'Basket Of Light'. 'About Thyme' received excellent reviews in Time Out, Q Magazine and Folk Roots, where it topped the folk album chart in November 1995.

As well as the new material from 'About Thyme', the band's live performances included some brilliant new versions of old Pentangle favourites. These are not simply nostalgic re-plays but imaginative new arrangements. It's as if the songs have given birth to sons and daughters with a recognisable family likeness but personalities of their own.

Jacqui McShee's Pentangle which, with a few personnel changes, is still performing today.

  DISCOGRAPHY

albums

The Pentangle- 1968 Sweet Child - 1968 Basket of Light - 1969 Cruel Sister - 1970 GB Reflection - 1971 Solomon's Seal - 1972 Open the Door- 1985 In the Round- 1986 So Early in the Spring- 1989 Think of Tomorrow- 1991 One More Road - 1993 Live 1994 - 1995 Feoffees' Lands - 2005 )

Singles

Travellin' Song"/"Mirage" (1968) GB S BigT B1G109 "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme"/"Way Behind The Sun" (1968) Reprise 0784 "Once I Had a Sweetheart"/"I Saw an Angel" (1969) Transatlantic BIG124 UK #46 "Light Flight"/"Cold Mountain" (1970) Transatlantic BIG128 UK #43 "Light Flight"/"Cold Mountain" (1970) UK #45 - re-entry "Play the Game"/"Saturday Movie" (1986) UK Making Waves SURF 107 "Set Me Free"/"Come to Me Easy"{ (1986) UK Making Waves SURF 121

  RELATED T O

JONI MITCHELL

LINDISFARNE

FAIRPORT CONVENTION

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