Two Score. 2018.

Recorded by Joe Garcia. Kennard Moor Drove, Coxbridge, Somerset, England, March and November 2017. Thanks Sarah Orme. Mixed by Joe Garcia at Joe's Garage, Bristol, November and December 2017. Mastered in the USA by James Plotkin. Pinhole camera photography by Paul Woloschuk. Design by Natalie Peter-Budge.

All the music on this

Two Score. 2018.

Recorded by Joe Garcia. Kennard Moor Drove, Coxbridge, Somerset, England, March and November 2017. Thanks Sarah Orme. Mixed by Joe Garcia at Joe's Garage, Bristol, November and December 2017. Mastered in the USA by James Plotkin. Pinhole camera photography by Paul Woloschuk. Design by Natalie Peter-Budge.

All the music on this album is included in the Blowzabella tune book 'More Scores'

The copyright in these sound recordings is the property of Blowzabella, 2018.

Strange News. 2013.

All Things Are Quite Silent: traditional song collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sussex, 1904. Le Petit Chien / The Long Drive: schottishes by Andy Cutting. Malique: a bourrée in 2/4 time by Gregory Jolivet. Strange News: is the traditional song The Blacksmith which was collected in southern England in the early 20th century;

Strange News. 2013.

All Things Are Quite Silent: traditional song collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sussex, 1904. Le Petit Chien / The Long Drive: schottishes by Andy Cutting. Malique: a bourrée in 2/4 time by Gregory Jolivet. Strange News: is the traditional song The Blacksmith which was collected in southern England in the early 20th century; the tune at the end is the traditional English tune/song Lovely Joan. Falco: English rant step dance tune by Paul James. The Muffler / Bhaskar’s: mazurkas by Jon Swayne and Barn Stradling. Black and White Box / Ubu the King: schottisches by Jo Freya and Paul James. Searching For Lambs / Main Dans La Main : traditional song collected in southern England in the early 20th century; followed by a waltz, also in 5 time, by Gregory Jolivet. The Maple Tree / Glasshouse: mazurkas by Jon Swayne and Jo Freya. Billy Ruffian / The Schoolhouse: bourrées in 2/4 time by Paul James and Jon Swayne. Nelly Was A Milkmaid : traditional song collected by Cecil Sharp, Oxfordshire, 1911. The Diggers / Cotillon: a rondeau by Paul James, the tune in the middle, Cotillon, is from the Wm. Vickers Mss c1770 and can still be heard as an Avant-deux dance in Poitou, France, and in Wallonie, Belgium. Shed Number 9 / Le Vicaire: schottishe by Jon Swayne, Le Vicaire is a traditional schottishe from the Auvergne, France.

Andy Cutting - diatonic button accordion, triangle. Jo Freya – vocals, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophones, whistle. Paul James – border bagpipes, soprano and alto saxophones, whistle. Gregory Jolivet – alto hurdy-gurdy. Dave Shepherd – violin, octave violin. Barn Stradling – acoustic bass guitar, octave bass guitar. Jon Swayne – border bagpipes, soprano and alto saxophones.

Guest: Patrick Bouffard – hurdy-gurdy on The Diggers / Cotillon.

Produced by Blowzabella 2013. CD version mixed and mastered by Olivier Thillou, Chateauroux, France. MP3 / website version mixed and mastered by Paul James. Recorded by Paul James and Jon Swayne at Kennard Moor Drove, Coxbridge, Somerset, England (thanks to Sarah Orme) and in Franchesse, Allier, Auvergne, France (thanks to Patrick Bouffard and Violaine Jourdren). Vocals recorded by Neil Ferguson in Leeds, England. Design: Ali Ford at the EmSpace. Photography by Lieve Boussauw. Back cover photograph by Julien Wieser.

Dance. Blowzabella live. 2010.

For this live album we decided to record some of the older tunes in our repertoire. We love playing these tunes and even though we've played them for years we've never previously recorded them all - either at all, or in the form in which we now play them. This is dance music and an important part of these recordings

Dance. Blowzabella live. 2010.

For this live album we decided to record some of the older tunes in our repertoire. We love playing these tunes and even though we've played them for years we've never previously recorded them all - either at all, or in the form in which we now play them. This is dance music and an important part of these recordings is the interaction with the audience. We really appreciate the contribution made by all the people who came to the gigs and danced so enthusiastically.

Blowzabella: Andy Cutting, Jo Freya, Paul James, Gregory Jolivet, Dave Shepherd, Barnaby Stradling, Jon Swayne.

Recorded live in Exeter, Bath and Lincoln by Mark Simms. October 2009. Mixed by Paul James. Mastered by Adam Skeaping. Released 2010. The copyright in these sound recordings is the property of Blowzabella.

Octomento. 2007.

The first album of the line-up of Andy Cutting, Jo Freya, Paul James, Gregory Jolivet, David Shepherd, Barn Stradling and Jon Swayne.

All the music is composed and arranged by Blowzabella except 'Le Galant Indiscret' and 'Jackie Tar' which are arrangements by Blowzabella based on traditional tunes.

Recorded in the community room

Octomento. 2007.

The first album of the line-up of Andy Cutting, Jo Freya, Paul James, Gregory Jolivet, David Shepherd, Barn Stradling and Jon Swayne.

All the music is composed and arranged by Blowzabella except 'Le Galant Indiscret' and 'Jackie Tar' which are arrangements by Blowzabella based on traditional tunes.

Recorded in the community room at St Michael's Church, Inkpen, England in January and February 2007 by Paul James and Jon Swayne. 'Jackie Tar' and 'L'Ange recorded by Paul James in the nave of the church. Mixed in Baltonsborough, Somerset by Paul James and Jon Swayne. Mastered by Adam Skeaping. CD cover design and photography by Victor Nicholls. Band photography by Peter Abrahams.

The copyright in these sound recordings is the property of Blowzabella. 2007.

Vanilla. 1990.

Andy Cutting - diatonic button accordion; Nigel Eaton - hurdy-gurdies, 'cello, percussion; Jo Freya. vocals, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Paul James - soprano saxophone, bagpipes, rauschfeife, percussion; Ian Luff - bass guitars, cittern, electric guitar, percussion; Jon Swayne - alto and soprano saxophones, bagpipes.

Produced by Paul

Vanilla. 1990.

Andy Cutting - diatonic button accordion; Nigel Eaton - hurdy-gurdies, 'cello, percussion; Jo Freya. vocals, tenor saxophone, clarinet; Paul James - soprano saxophone, bagpipes, rauschfeife, percussion; Ian Luff - bass guitars, cittern, electric guitar, percussion; Jon Swayne - alto and soprano saxophones, bagpipes.

Produced by Paul James. Engineered and mixed by Paul James and Peter Lazonby at Longholme, Northamptonshre, England. Spaghetti Panic (Live) engineered by Mike Long At Moles, Bath. Mastering - Adam Skeaping and Duncan Cowell. Photography by Andrew Cleal. . Design by Tony Engle. Thanks to Robert John Godfrey (The Enid), Robin, Pete, Kes and Toby at Longholme.

Released in 1990 on CD, vinyl LP and cassette by Special Delivery Records (Topic Records).

All titles arranged by Blowzabella.

A Richer Dust. 1988.

Tracks 1-6 'The Wars of the Roses Suite'. In 1986 the villagers of East Stoke in Nottinghamshire decided that the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Stoke Field (1487) - the final battle of The Wars of the Roses' - should not pass without some sort of recognition. They held a series of commemorative events in 1987 and

A Richer Dust. 1988.

Tracks 1-6 'The Wars of the Roses Suite'. In 1986 the villagers of East Stoke in Nottinghamshire decided that the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Stoke Field (1487) - the final battle of The Wars of the Roses' - should not pass without some sort of recognition. They held a series of commemorative events in 1987 and Blowzabella were commissioned to write a suite of music and perform it in the village church. Thanks to David Groom for asking the band to do it and for getting Arts Council England and Nottinghamshire County Council to pay for it. Jon Swayne had left the band in 1987 to focus on his instrument making business and returned to participate in writing and arranging the music and for the performance in the church. He was to rejoin permanently a couple of years later.

Tracks 7-12 are unes and songs which the band played live on tour around that time

Nigel Eaton - hurdy-gurdies. Jo Fraser (Jo Freya) - tenor and C melody saxophones, whistles, vocals. Paul James - border bagpipes, soprano saxophone, rauschpfeife, whistles, darabuka, tapan, side drum, vocals. Ian Luff - bass guitar, cittern, darabuka, side drum. Dave Roberts - diatonic accordion, darabuka. Dave Shepherd - violin, viola d'amore. with Jon Swayne - bagpipes and alto saxophone - tracks 1-6. Charles Gray - ambient sounds - tracks 1-6.

Produced by Charles Gray and Paul James. Recorded in London at Milo Studios, March 1988. Engineered by Charles Gray and Jim Toler. Photography by Angela Coombes. Sleeve design by Roy Avis. Mastered at CTS by Mike Brown 1988. Mastered for CD at Reflex by Tony Dixon 1996. Mastered for MP3 by Paul James 2021.

Copyright: Blowzabella 1988.

Recorded live on tour in Brazil. August 1987.

Recorded by Charles Gray with a pair of Shure SM57 microphones and a Sony F1 Digital Audio Recorder.

The tour was organised by The British Council. Thanks to Rozanne Leite, Conselho Britânico, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Nigel Eaton – hurdy-gurdy. Paul James – bagpipes, saxophone, whistle, rauschpfeife,

Recorded live on tour in Brazil. August 1987.

Recorded by Charles Gray with a pair of Shure SM57 microphones and a Sony F1 Digital Audio Recorder.

The tour was organised by The British Council. Thanks to Rozanne Leite, Conselho Britânico, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Nigel Eaton – hurdy-gurdy. Paul James – bagpipes, saxophone, whistle, rauschpfeife, darrabuka. Ian Luff – cittern, bass guitar. Dave Roberts – melodeon, darrabuka. Dave Shepherd – violin.

Thanks Some Bizzare Records and the legend that is Stevo Pearce for taking a chance on Blowzabella. Cover art: Philip Ridley. Some Bizzare Records. BIGHCD1 K.422. Remastered for MP3 by Paul James 2020.

Sadly we lost three of the team since those heady days. RIP Dave Roberts, Ian Luff and Charlie Gray. You are all greatly missed. (sleeve notes by Paul James).

The B to A of Blowzabella. 1987

“The band went to Pathway Studios in North London on 12th April 1987 to record as many tunes as possible that are in the band’s first tune and dance book “Encyclopaedia Blowzabellica” (you can buy the book from the SHOP page). The idea was that this cassette only album was to be a cheap and cheerful accompaniment to

The B to A of Blowzabella. 1987

“The band went to Pathway Studios in North London on 12th April 1987 to record as many tunes as possible that are in the band’s first tune and dance book “Encyclopaedia Blowzabellica” (you can buy the book from the SHOP page). The idea was that this cassette only album was to be a cheap and cheerful accompaniment to the book. It was one 10 hour studio session so we worked fast, recording live to 2 track tape (rather than recording to multi-track tape and then mixing it later). The band were playing a lot of live gigs so it was just a question of making a list of tunes, having a quick discussion about the arrangement, press record, do one or two takes and move on to the next one – and don’t worry about the occasional bum note. Sound engineer Charlie Gray (RIP) had just bought a Sony SL-f1 Betamax digital 2-track recorder. That little machine was a revolution as it made digital recording portable and affordable for many musicians at the time. Charlie took the same machine with us when we toured Brazil that August and recorded the “Pingha Frenzy (live in Brazil)” album. The "B to A ..." album was only ever released on cassette and we lost the master tapes so these digital recordings have been recovered from several copies of the cassette found languishing amongst people’s record collections. In restoring these recordings very little processing has been applied, just enough to fix any little problems. It is what it is. Like "Pingha Frenzy” it’s a record of how Blowzabella sounded at the time and it sounds great!”. Paul James (November 2021).

Sleeve notes:

The B to A of Blowzabella is a cross section of the music the band has been playing at dances over the last few years. The tunes were picked up by the band, both here and abroad, from friends, other musicians and bands, books, records, tapes and pub sessions. Some of these tunes have survived in the repertoire in their original form and some have been altered to suit a particular dance or purpose, and some have been improved or changed through constant usage. For the most part they are general purpose tunes which can be fitted to a wide variety of dances. When it comes to arrangements, everyone in the band knows the tunes and a basic structure is agreed for each piece prior to playing it. Everything else is made up on the spur of the moment. Any traditional authenticity or lack of it is coincidental.

1. 48 Bar Jig – Spanish Jig (trad.)
2. 48 Bar Polka (trad.)
3. Hornpipes – The Savage / Gloucestershire Miner / William Taylor’s Table Top. (trad. / trad. & D. Shepherd / D. Shepherd)
4. 2/4 Bourrées – Carrée De Vouvray / D’Aurore Sand / Fred Paris’s (G. Chabenat / trad. / Frederic Paris)
5. Waltz – The Café Waltz (Callipyge) (E. Elsener)
6. Polkas – The Knife’s Edge / Caffouillée (trad.)
7. Mazurka – The Fubu Mazurka (D’Embrault) (T. Mirebeau)
8. 3/8 Bourrées – Anon / Les Poules Huppées / Fil et Bobine (anon / J. Blanchard / G. Chabenat).
9. Jigs – Shave the Monkey / Boys of the Mill (P. James / C. Stapleton).
10. Waltz – Bouffard’s (P. Bouffard).
11. Hornpipes – The New Hornpipes (D.Shepherd)
12. Polka – Kolumtanz (trad.)
13. Schottishes – Derriere les Carreaux / Mominette (F. Paris / M. Heintzen)
14. Polkas – Pas D’Eté
15. Jigs – The Marriage Marches (trad.)
16. Laridé (trad. S.E. Brittany)
17. Jigs – Tarascaire / Trip to Lincoln / Epic Branle (trad. / trad. / P. James & C. Stapleton)

All arrangements by Blowzabella. Copyright 1987 Blowzabella.

Nigel Eaton – hurdy-gurdies (lute-shaped in D / guitar-shaped in G). Paul James – half-long border bagpipes (G), soprano saxophone, soprano rauschpfeife, flageolet, alto recorder, drum. Ian Luff – cittern, bass guitar, drum, darabuka. Dave Roberts – melodeon (G/D), drum. Dave Shepherd – violin. Jon Swayne – half-long border bagpipes (G and low D), soprano and alto saxophones, flageolet, fife.

Instruments:

Bagpipes, flageolets – J. Swayne. Hurdy-gurdies – C. Eaton. Cittern – A. Lamb. Bass guitar – Wal. Melodeon – Castagnari. Rauschpfeife – E. Moulder Saxophones – Yamaha, Borgani, Selmer.

Recorded on 12/04/1987 at Pathway, London, live direct to digital 2 track. Produced, recorded and edited by Charles Gray. Artwork, design: Janina Lech. All the music on this cassette is contained, along with the notation for some accompanying dances, in the ‘Encyclopaedia Blowzabellica – the Blowzabella Tune and Dance Book’. Mastered for MP3 by Paul James, November 2021.