Gary Boyle The Dancer

Gary Boyle - The Dancer (1977). Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce a new remastered edition of the first solo album by acclaimed guitarist Gary Boyle, founder of Jazz Rock group Isotope. Released in 1978, "The Dancer" was Boyle’s first solo album and followed the final Isotope album, “Deep End”. The recording sessions saw Boyle joined by such celebrated alumni as Robin Lumley, Rod Argent, Dave MacRae, Morris Pert and Simon Phillips. The resulting album is now regarded as a classic Jazz/Rock album…

Gary Boyle formed the jazz-rock band, Isotope, in 1973, recruiting three other stalwarts from the jazz field; Nigel Morris, Brian Miller & Jeff Clyne (ex Nucleus). Gary and Nigel had previously been part of Stomu Yamash'ta's band, East Wind. Prior to that, Gary had worked with Dusty Springfield, Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll. Isotope released three albums during the mid 70s, which gained wide acclaim and favourable comparisons with John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra. This compilation is comprised of an Isotope BBC concert and an Old Grey Whistle Test show, plus a Gary Boyle session recorded for John Peel. None of these recordings have ever been released before. The accompanying 8 page booklet includes a brief note from Gary Boyle plus extensive liner notes, including an interview with Gary, and several rare band photographs.

Probably one of the finest examples of British jazz-rock ever recorded (with all due respect to the brilliant Soft Machine, a near cousin), Isotope reaches its peak with this seminal recording, wrapped in stunning artwork, luminous production, fabulous musicianship and quirky compositions. The Canterbury (Soft Machine) connection stems from the ubiquitous presence of basso profundo Hugh Hopper , the master of fuzzy-wuzzy bass rumbling, arguably one of the prime virtuoso innovators on the electric bass (along with the usual suspects: Squire, Pastorius, Levin, Karn , Percy Jones etc.). Irish guitarist Gary Boyle is a splendid craftsman with a unique sound, very different from similar cousins Holdsworth , Etheridge or Lozaga , whose solo album "The Dancer" is an awesome piece of music.