Watch out! There’s a Zzebra crossing. But where we are going, we don’t need roads… or warning signs. Just prick up your ears and keep alert for some exciting music performed by a remarkable band on these recently-discovered, stellar live recordings.

Zzebra was born with two zeds (better than one) in 1973 in the wake of earlier jazz and Afro rock groups such as If and Osibisa.

The original Zzebra lineup included guitarist Terry Smith and saxophonist Dave Quincy, both If veterans; together with Gus Yeadon on vocals and keyboards. With Loughty Lasisi Amao on sax, vocals and percussion and stalwarts John McCoy and Liam Genockey providing the rhythm engine, they made two studio albums for Polydor.

When Yeadon left he was replaced by Tommy Eyre, previously with Joe Cocker and Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation to complete the now revitalised group along with singer Alan Marshall. Meanwhile Terry Smith was replaced by Steve Byrd and this is the team captured here, during a broadcast by Radio Bremen in 1975.

Dave Quincy says he was amazed on hearing this CD for the first time: “I can only describe it as Heavy Metal Jazz Rock!” It certainly catches electric fire in the first bars of ‘Panic’ when Loughty’s Afro percussion matches the drive of Liam’s Irish powered drums. Steve Byrd flies free as a bird during his guitar battle with Quincy’s sax and Tommy’s electrifying keyboards.

What set Zzebra apart from similar combos, is they were well-rehearsed, and the soloists knew how to improvise without resorting to out of tune screeching. Alan sings with marshalled authority on the funky ‘Mr J’ and during the sombre ‘No Point’ composed by John McCoy. The Righteous Brothers’ ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’ becomes a splendid feature for Quincy’s tasteful soprano sax and 18 year old Steve’s impressive guitar solo while ‘The Poverty Song’ veers towards Stax thanks to Liam and Loughty’s funky groove. ‘Liamo’ has the Afro-Rock explosive force of Ginger Baker’s Airforce and on percussion-rich numbers like ‘Society’ the drummers scream while they play. It all reaches a frenzied climax with ‘Hungry Horse’ greeted by much deserved applause.

It’s a shame Zzebra aren’t around today. They’d be a huge sensation at Ronnie Scott’s. Alas, Loughty died in tragic circumstances in 1988, Tommy Eyre passed way in 2001 and Steve Byrd in 2016. But thankfully, Hungry Horse nags at our memories with a stable diet of pure jazz-rock at its best.