A trio of classic albums from this legendary prog group – all brought together in a single set! First up is the self-titled Jade Warrior – the fantastic debut of a group who were one of the most unique prog acts to record for the Vertigo label in the 70s! Jade Warrior is just a trio – and unlike some of the harder-rocking power trios of the time, the group have a way of balancing softness and intensity, acoustic modes and electric ones – all with a unique style that also offers up some of the exoticism promised by their name! Yet don't worry about that last aspect – as things here are never too heavy-handed, as the group are Brit to their core – maybe balancing some of the lighter Mel Collins moments of King Crimson and the more personal Ian Anderson songs of Jethro Tull – in a line up that features percussion and flute from Jon Field, guitar from Tony Duhig, and bass and these great raspy vocals from Glyn Havard. Titles include "Masami Morning", "Windweaver", "Petunia", "Telephone Girl", "Psychiatric Sergeant", "Slow Ride", and "A Prenormal Day At Brighton". Next up is Released – the searing second album from Jade Warrior – and a record that shows the world what a mighty guitar
powerhouse lurked behind their faux-Japanese aesthetics! The group's a quintet for this record – upped from the debut – and in addition to razor-sharp guitar work from Tony Duhig, there's also some great use of tenor, alto, and flute by newcomer Dave Connors – who works alongside the flute and percussion of group founder Jon Field. Allan Price adds in plenty of drums next to Field's percussion – and the vocals of Glyn Havard are even more powerful here than before – definitely matching the ferocity of his work on the bass! The whole thing's great – a hard rock masterpiece with just the right lighter touches at times, thanks to the reeds – a masterpiece by a group who never got the attention they deserved at the time – apart from hip listeners who really knew where it was at. Titles include "Water Curtain Cave", "We Have Reason To Believe", "Eyes On You", "Barazinbar", "Yellow Eyes", and "Three Horned Dragon King". On Last Autumn's Dream, Jade Warrior have a sound that's unlike anyone else of their generation – a mix of percussion, flute, bass, and guitar – all with the kind of electric/
acoustic interplay such a lineup with imply! The cover image of this second album maybe looks a bit dramatic, but the group actually have a sound that's nicely understated at times – they can certainly jam with the best of their Vertigo label prog contemporaries, but they can also get a bit more personal too – and it's the balance of those modes that make a record like this such a unique treasure from the time! Titles include "A Winter's Tale", "Snake", "Morning Hymn", "May Queen", "Lady Of The Lake", "Borne On The Solar Wind", and "Dark River". All albums with original artwork – in a box with a great booklet of notes!