Kenny Graham and his Satellites: Moondog And Suncat Suites

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Kenny Graham (ts, perc, whistle)
Phil Seamen
Ivor Slaney
Don Lawson
Vic Ash
Eddie Taylor
Sammy Stokes
Yolanda
Jack Ellory
Stan Tracey
Martin Slavin
Danny Moss

Label:

Trunk

June/2010

Catalogue Number:

JBH036CD

RecordDate:

1956

The haunting music of New York street musician Moondog (aka Louis Hardin) has recently enjoyed a deserved renaissance, mostly through the reissues of his recordings that have been released by London-based label Honest Jon's. In the late-1950s, however, few outside of New York had ever heard of Moondog and his music remained a mystery to many. London jazz musician Kenny Graham was one of those who knew of Moondog's music and liked what he heard – so much so that he recorded this album of Moondog covers, together with a personalised tribute that he called ‘Suncat Suite’. The album quickly disappeared into obscurity, but thanks to the ever-inquisitive Trunk label Graham's masterpiece has been restored to CD, and is a welcome addition to the Moondog catalogue. What makes Moondog And Suncat Suites doubly interesting is that the engineer for the sessions was a young Joe Meek, the visionary producer of such hits as The Honeycombs’ ‘Have The Right?’ and ‘Telstar’ by The Tornados. Meek's involvement gives a subliminal outer space effect to the recording that pushes the overall vibe of Graham's group into Sun Ra territory at times, while still retaining the rhythmic qualities of Moondog's original musical vision.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more