The Tubby Hayes Quartet

Seven Steps To Heaven: 

Live At The Hopbine 1972

 

This is the first ever commercial release of an important late period Tubby Hayes performance that fully captures the more restrained and subtler side of his robust talent. The repertoire comprises the well known standards he was favouring at that time, and in addition to Hayes’ remarkable tenor saxophone and flute solos there are exceptional performances by pianist Mike Pyne, double bassist 

Daryl Runswick and drummer Tony Oxley.

 

Late live work from the legendary Tubby Hayes – but material that still shows the tenor giant at the height of his powers! All tracks are nice and long, and really let Hayes stretch out – not just on tenor, but also on flute – an instrument that he plays with this surprisingly soulful tone, one that's almost a bit raspy at times, and as fluid in solo imagination as his tenor! The rest of the group is nice and lean – really giving Hayes plenty of room in the spotlight – and players include Mike Pyne on piano, Daryl Runswick on bass, and Tony Oxley on drums. The album features long takes on "Alone Together" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" – plus a six minute burning version of "Seven Steps To Heaven". (Comes with bonus download code, too!) 

 

 

Side A

Someday My Prince Will Come (12:32)

Seven Steps To Heaven (5:40) 

 

Side B

Alone Together (14:23)

 

Personnel

Tubby Hayes - tenor saxophone, flute 

Mike Pyne - piano

Daryl Runswick - bass

Tony Oxley - drums

 

Limited to 500 copies only.

 

12” 180 gram 33 rpm LP

Includes free download code

 

In House  Mastering on Vintage & Modern All Analogue Valve Mastering

Haeco Scully lathe, Western Electric cutting amps and head; Maselec master control, EQ and de-esser; original Lang Pultec EQ; Urei high and low pass filters; fully restored Studer C37 and ex Decca Philips Pro51 tape machines; Nagra SN stereo reel to reel for field recording; Telefunken U73b compressor/limiter; Telefunken V72 and V76 mic preamps; Audionote 211 valve monitoring amps, speakers and turntable