Jazz Sabbath

Jazz Sabbath is a fictional English jazz trio said to be from the late sixties. The band was created by Adam Wakeman, touring keyboard and guitar player for Black Sabbath (2004–2017) and Ozzy Osbourne (2004–present). Jazz Sabbath plays jazz renditions of Black Sabbath songs; claiming to be the original writers of those songs and accusing Black Sabbath of plagiarism.[1]

Jazz Sabbath
Background information
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genresjazz
Years activeFictional: 1968–1970
Actual: 2020–present
LabelsBlacklake
MembersMilton Keanes
(Adam Wakeman)
Jacque T'fono (Jerry Meehan)
Juan Také (Ash Soan)

The band first appeared in a mockumentary on YouTube in February 2020. In this short film band leader Milton Keanes (Adam Wakeman) was interviewed by actor Robert Powell about the early days of Jazz Sabbath, their cancelled debut album and the alleged theft of their songs by Black Sabbath. This album was later released as an actual album on April 10th 2020.[2]

History

Fictional history

Within the context of the band's fictional history,[3][4] they formed in 1968 and were considered by many to be at the forefront of the new jazz movement coming out of England at the time. The band consisted of Milton Keanes (piano), Jacque T'fono (upright bass) and Juan Také (drums). Their debut self-titled album, recorded in 1969, was scheduled for release on Friday 13th February 1970. The album was cancelled when news broke that Keanes was hospitalised after suffering a massive heart attack. The record company took the decision to shelve the album and cancel the scheduled release out of compassion and the financial uncertainty of releasing a debut album from a band without its musical leader. When Milton was released from hospital in September 1970, he found out that a band from Birmingham, conveniently called 'Black Sabbath', had since released two albums containing metal versions of what he claims were his songs.

Jazz Sabbath's record label, Rusty Bedsprings Records didn't exist anymore and the label owner was in jail. All recalled Jazz Sabbath albums had been destroyed when the warehouse burned down in June 1970; which turned out to be a case of insurance fraud by the label owner, leaving only a few bootleg tapes of Jazz Sabbath's live performances between 1968 and 1969 as proof of existence. Milton spent the following years writing letters to Black Sabbath every day, but never got a reply.[5]

The album masters were said to be lost in the fire, but were actually misplaced in the basement vaults of the recording studio. In late 2019 the original masters from the 1969 recording sessions were found and subsequently remixed for a 2020 re-release.

Real history

The idea for Jazz Sabbath started in 2013 on a night off in Berlin during one of the Black Sabbath tours, when Adam and Sabbath's security guard sat at the hotel bar early in the morning. The security guard asked if Adam could play the Sabbath set on the piano in the bar. Adam thought it would be fun to play the songs as jazz improvised versions and then played until the bar staff wanted to go home.[6][7]

Discography

Jazz Sabbath (2020)
Released through Blacklake Records on April 10th 2020, the album contains jazz renditions of Fairies Wear Boots, Evil Woman, Rat Salad, Iron Man, Hand of Doom, Changes and Children of the Grave.

Personnel: In the album liner notes, the band members and session players are only mentioned by their fictional names:[8]

  • Milton Keanes – piano (Adam Wakeman)
  • Jacque T'fono – upright bass (Jerry Meehan)
  • Juan Také – drums (Ash Soan)

Album session players: Wes Tostrayer – Guitar (Pete Rinaldi),[9] Steven Stringer – Guitar (Simon McBride), Chester Drawes– Guitar (Fraser T. Smith), Leighton B'zard – Hammond Organ (Adam Wakeman), and Fenton Breezley – Saxophone (Justin Swadling)

On the iTunes jazz charts the album debuted on #4 in the UK, #3 in the US and #1 in Canada.[10] The album peaked at #14 on the Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30.[11]

References
  1. "Jazz sabbath website". JazzSabbath.net.
  2. "Jazz sabbath; the documentary". YouTube.com.
  3. "Jazz sabbath website". JazzSabbath.net.
  4. "News article". Loudersound.com.
  5. "Talking Rock podcast" (Podcast).
  6. Parker, Kelly. "INTERVIEW: Milton Keane of Jazz Sabbath, who has a bone to pick". 94-3 The Drive - Winnipeg's Classic Rock!. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  7. "Jazz Sabbath: Jazz Sabbath". offthetracks.co.nz. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. "Jazziz magazine". Jazziz.com.
  9. "Jazz Sabbath interview". Rocking.gr.
  10. "iTunes Top 100 Jazz Albums". popvortex.com.
  11. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30". officialcharts.com.
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