The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance (1971) -
: The title track is a sprawling centerpiece. It features driving rhythmic sections that clash with dissonant brass, moving from structured patterns to free-form chaos. Legacy and Rarity
: The title "Chitinous" refers to the hard shell of insects and crustaceans, which reflects the music’s often angular, sharp, and "armored" textures. The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance (1971)
While it didn't achieve commercial success at the time, "The Chitinous Ensemble - Dance" has become a highly sought-after "holy grail" for collectors of British Jazz and rare Deram pressings. It serves as a testament to the era's boundary-pushing spirit, where the lines between classical conservatory training and jazz-club experimentation were completely blurred. : The title track is a sprawling centerpiece
The album is a sophisticated blend of . Buckmaster utilized a unique "ensemble" approach, bringing together top-tier session musicians and orchestral players to create a sound that was both rigid in its classical structure and loose in its jazz improvisation. While it didn't achieve commercial success at the
: Long before "fusion" became a commercial buzzword, this record was experimenting with electric instruments in a symphonic context. It shares a DNA with the experimental side of Ian Carr’s Nucleus or the more abstract moments of Soft Machine. Key Tracks
: A moody, atmospheric introduction that sets a cinematic tone, showcasing Buckmaster's skill with strings and woodwinds.