A Lifetime In Music
Jill Saward
A Lifetime In Music
Jill Saward the voice of Shakatak
Early Years
Jill began her musical career at the age of 16, with the British progressive jazz rock band Fusion Orchestra, from 1969 to 1972, dominating the English club scene at that time.
Jill Saward and Fusion Orchestra gained a following of fans who secured a record deal with EMI music to produce their first album Skeleton in Armour', an album that immediately received critical acclaim upon its debut, and is now considered a collector's item highly sought after.
After the band Fusion Orchestra split, Saward became involved in a new all female group, called Brandy. The band, produced by Polydor, was active for about three years in the UK and Europe, before disbanding in 1976.
Working her way up!
Jill was spotted later by the band leader Nicky North who invited her to perform in the 'Cats Whiskers' with his own big soul funk band. She also made a name for herself as one of the UK's session singers at that time. Saward also had a brief stint with a musical group of all women, called Citizen Gang, built by a French manufacturer of Orpheus Productions, and still managed to collaborate with the Nicky North Band. It was in this period she met band, Nigel Wright and Roger Odell, who are still components of jazz-funk band Shakatak.
Today
Jill became the leading voice of Shakatak sharing success for more than 43 years. The band is still touring and recording and still popular around the world, especially in Europe and the Far East. They usually publish a new album every two years for JVC Records and Secret Records.
Despite constant touring and recording, Jill has always managed to find time to develop new projects, and still continues to write and record new material.
Jill Saward (solo albums)
1999: Just For You
2016: Just For You (remastered with three bonus tracks)
2016: M Is For Manhattan
2016: Endless Summer
With Fusion Orchestra
1973: Skeleton in Armour - recorded at Abbey Road Studios
With Brandy
1977: Ooh Ya
With Citizen Gang
1979: Citizen Gang
1979: "Womanly Way"
News & Chat
Fusion Orchestra was a massive part of my touring and performing life. We left our mark on the progressive rock scene in the 70's and I am so happy many fans from that era still turn up to the Shakatak gigs and tell me what an effect Fusion had on their musical lives. Our cult album SKELETON IN ARMOUR is still available on many platforms. If you find the original gatefold first pressing you are in for a windfall!
FUSION ORCHESTRA LIVE AT THE MARQUEE 1974
“There I was in Tokyo in 2016 finishing the Shakatak tour, when a quiet discerning Japanese man called Yasuyuki Mizuno approached me at the merchandise table and said he has a cassette of a Fusion Orchestra show he attended at the Marquee London in 1974.
“I found myself listening – with a nostalgic tear in my eye – to the set, shouting to myself 'yeah, go girl go!'. Screams and all. The band sound brilliant, the audience jibes and cheers add to the show. It's live, uncut and really very very raw. I was transported back to the Marquee and can smell the place now – and I can also feel the history that lived in the walls.
“I presented this project to our record company and they've done a brilliant job mastering and saving all of the live moments.”
The album – Fusion Orchestra Live at the Marquee – features Jill on vocals, piano, flute, 12-string guitar and percussion; Colin Dawson on lead guitar; Stan Land (who sadly passed away early in 2017) on second guitar, slide guitar, harmonica and synths; Paul Jennings on bass guitar; and Dave Bell on drums.
The recording has been taken from the original analogue source captured at the London's Marquee club on 26 August 1974.
https://secretrecordslimited.com/products/seccd183
FUSION ORCHESTRA ON THE ROAD 1970 - 1975
Fusion Orchestra – On the Road 1970 through to 1975 offers a remarkable insight into the life of the band on the road for more than five years.
While touring, drummer Dave Bell kept meticulous notes on the gigs and events that related to each individual show, his weird and wonderful creative mind jotting down his impressions and details as they happened.
His notes contain venue names, dates of the gigs, supporting or main acts and set lists, as well as many memorable incidents that occurred while the band travelled and performed. The notes have now been compiled into a 40-page book by vocalist Jill Saward and guitarist Col Dawson, complete with many band photographs, line-up details and historical notes. (Colin Dawson)
Fusion Orchestra – On the Road 1970 through to 1975 is priced at £20 plus £3.50 UK P&P
PAYPAL PAYMENT EMAIL : stingingnettle@hotmail.co.uk
Live and on the road Shakatak gig list
