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Album Review

Spontaneous Music Orchestra - Directed by John Stevens in 1973: Mouthpiece

by Glenn Astarita
August 1, 2000

Mouthpiece represents previously unreleased material from 1973 by the late John Stevens of “Spontaneous Music Ensemble” fame. And interestingly enough, there is no record of the personnel who perform here under Stevens’ direction. Hence, this large ensemble known as the “Spontaneous Music Orchestra” offers more in the way of drummer/trumpeter and visionary John Stevens’ penchant for group improvisation and interaction. Here, Stevens directs the band and performs exclusively on trumpet and somewhat surprisingly, the music and overall concepts sound amazingly ...

Album Review

Spontaneous Music Orchestra: For You to Share

by Robert Spencer
July 1, 1998

The orchestra here in question is the renowned English free drummer John Stevens and reedman Trevor Watts (on soprano here) plus – on the first track, the four-part “For You to Share" – “numerous young musicians and audience members." It was May 20, 1970. The sound is a bit dodgy, especially this first track, with the soprano and drums sounding as if they've been recorded on a personal cassette recorder, circa 1970 – and they probably were – but what ...