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{{Short description|English rock band}}
{{for|other forms of quintessence|Quintessence (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Quintessence
| name = Quintessence
| image =
| image = Optreden op Holland Popfestival in het Kralingse bos, 1970 - 12.jpg
| caption =
| caption = Quintessence (Kralingen, 1970)
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| alias =
| origin = [[United Kingdom]]
| origin = [[United Kingdom]]
| genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[progressive rock]], [[raga rock]]
| genre = [[Psychedelic rock]], [[progressive rock]], [[jazz rock]], [[raga rock]]
| years_active = 1969–present
| years_active = 1969–1980<br><small>(Reunion: 2010)</small>
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Shpongle]], [[Blurt]], [[The Mystery of the Yeti]], [[The Infinity Project]], [[1200 Micrograms]], Kala
| spinoffs = [[Shpongle]], [[Blurt]]
| website =
| website =
| current_members =
| current_members =
| past_members = [[Raja Ram (musician)|Raja Ram]]<br>Shiva Shankar Jones<br>Sambhu Baba<br>Maha Dev<br>Allan Mostert<br>Jake Milton
| past_members = * Sambhu Babaji
* Jake Milton
* Allan Mostert
* [[Raja Ram (musician)|Raja Ram]]
* Maha Dev
* Shiva Shankar Jones
}}
}}
'''Quintessence''' was a [[rock music|rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]] formed in April 1969 in [[Notting Hill]], [[London]], [[England]].<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first= |last= |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p20031/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Bruce Eder |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=2 April 2009}}</ref> The style was a mixture of [[jazz]], [[psychedelic rock]] and [[progressive rock]] with an influence of [[Music of India|music from India]].<ref name="AMG"/> Quintessence was among the first true progressive rock outfits signed by [[Island Records]].<ref name="AMG"/>
'''Quintessence''' were a [[rock music|rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]] formed in April 1969 in [[Notting Hill]], [[London]], [[England]].<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |author=Bruce Eder |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/quintessence-mn0000381885/biography |title=Quintessence &#124; Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2014-07-24 |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105083833/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/quintessence-mn0000381885/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> Their style was a mixture of [[jazz]], [[psychedelic rock]] and [[progressive rock]] with an influence of [[Music of India|music from India]].<ref name="AMG"/>


==Career==
==Career==
The original line-up included the [[Australia]]n born, Shiva Shankar Jones ([[human voice|voice]], [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[percussion instrument|percussion]]), [[Raja Ram (musician)|Raja Ram]] ([[flute]], percussion), Sambhu Baba ([[bass guitar]], [[guitar]]), Maha Dev (guitar), Allan Mostert (lead guitar, bass guitar, sitar), and Jake Milton ([[drum]]s, percussion).<ref name="AMG"/> All of them, in addition to a common interest in Indian music, also shared the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[faith]].<ref name="AMG"/> Quintessence were tagged a 'spiritual' band, but were playing [[New Age]] rock before the term was born.
The original line-up included Sambhu Babaji (bass guitar), Maha Dev (rhythm guitar), Shiva Shankar Jones (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Jake Milton (drums, percussion), Allan Mostert (lead guitar) (born 1952), and [[Raja Ram (musician)|Raja Ram]] (flute, percussion).<ref name="AMG"/> Jones, an Australian, had been Phil Jones and with his Sydney band The Unknown Blues had a hit with "If I Had a Ticket" in 1967.


They rehearsed in All Saints Hall which was a converted church near [[Portobello Road]],<ref name="Oldies">[http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Quintessence.html Oldies.com - accessed April 2009]</ref> and recorded three albums for [[Island Records]] between 1969 and 1971, with two further albums recorded in 1972 for [[Radio Corporation of America|RCA]].<ref name="AMG Discography"/> The first of the latter set, ''Self'', featured [[recording studio|studio]] material on side one, with the band recorded playing live at [[Exeter University]], on 11 December 1971, on side two.<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r47436/review|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com - ''Self'' - album review]</ref>
They rehearsed in All Saints Hall which was a converted church near [[Portobello Road]],<ref name="Oldies">{{cite web|url=http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Quintessence.html |title=Quintessence Biography |publisher=OLDIES.com |access-date=2014-07-24}}</ref> and recorded three albums for [[Island Records]] between 1969 and 1971, with two further albums recorded in 1972 for [[Radio Corporation of America|RCA]].<ref name="AMG Discography"/> The first of the latter set, ''Self'', featured [[recording studio|studio]] material on side one, with the band recorded playing live at [[Exeter University]], on 11 December 1971, on side two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/self-mw0000795960 |title=Self - Quintessence &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2014-07-24 |archive-date=17 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217023557/http://www.allmusic.com/album/self-mw0000795960 |url-status=live }}</ref>


⚫
They built a reputation on solid club work. Besides appearing at the first two [[Glastonbury Festival]]s (then called 'Fayres'), in 1970/71, they also were invited to play the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]].
Not unlike the [[Grateful Dead]], they did a lot of collective jamming with an intention to trance out their audiences by a forceful combination of the chanting of mantras with the Krishna flute lines and the lyrical guitar soloing.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} Often the local [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishna]] disciples would provide an extra percussion section. Quintessence had their household guru in Swami Ambikananda.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}


[[File:Quintessence Majalah Aktuil Edisi 100 Tahun 1972.png|thumb|right|300px|Photo published in 1972]]
⚫
They built a reputation on solid club work and were deemed London's Underground Sensation in 1970. Besides appearing at the first two [[Glastonbury Festival]]s (then called 'Fayres'), in 1970/71, they also were invited to play the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]]. At their peak they sold out the [[Royal Albert Hall]] twice.
[[File:Quintessence (GB, London), Majalah Aktuil Edisi 100 Tahun 1972.png|thumb|right|250px|Photo publ. the same year]]


On 18 September 1971 Quintessence played a [[benefit concert]] for [[Bangladesh]] at [[The Oval]], [[Kennington]].<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years"/> They appeared on a bill that included [[The Who]], [[Mott the Hoople]], [[Lindisfarne (band)|Lindisfarne]], [[Atomic Rooster]], [[The Grease Band]] and [[America (band)|America]].<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book|first=John|last=Tobler|year=1992|title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years|edition=1st|publisher=Reed International Books Ltd |location=London|pages=230|id=CN 5585}}</ref>
On 18 September 1971, Quintessence played a [[benefit concert]] for [[Bangladesh]] at [[The Oval]], [[Kennington]].<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years"/> They appeared on a bill that included [[The Who]], [[Mott the Hoople]], [[Lindisfarne (band)|Lindisfarne]], [[Atomic Rooster]], [[The Grease Band]] and [[America (band)|America]].<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book|first=John|last=Tobler|year=1992|title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years|edition=1st|publisher=Reed International Books Ltd |location=London|page=230|id=CN 5585}}</ref>


Although Quintessence played many hundred of concerts and [[music festival|festivals]] all over [[Europe]], they turned down a [[United States|U.S.]] record deal negotiated by [[Island Records]]' [[Chris Blackwell]] and did not play at a concert at [[New York City|New York's]] [[Carnegie Hall]] lined up in early 1972, or tour the U.S., because four of the band's members wanted a larger monetary advance. This disappointed Blackwell and he dropped the band from the [[record label]]. Quintessence then signed with RCA and recorded one album with Jones and Dev. Raja Ram then unexpectedly 'fired' the pair after that album was released.
Although Quintessence played many hundreds of concerts and [[music festival|festivals]] all over [[Europe]], they turned down a [[United States|U.S.]] record deal negotiated by [[Island Records]]' [[Chris Blackwell]] and did not play at a concert at [[New York City|New York's]] [[Carnegie Hall]] lined up in early 1972, or tour the U.S., because four of the band's members wanted a larger monetary advance. This disappointed Blackwell and he dropped the band from the [[record label]]. Quintessence then signed with RCA and recorded one album with Jones and Dev.<ref name="AMG"/> Raja Ram then unexpectedly 'fired' the pair after that album was released. Jones and Dev went on to form the short-lived outfit called Kala.<ref name="AMG"/> Meanwhile, Quintessence played on into the 1980s before breaking up.


==Later activities==
Jones and Dev went on to form the short-lived outfit called Kala.<ref name="AMG"/> According to Jones, Kala broke up because [[Bradley's Records]] (a subsidiary of ATV) changed their policy towards their artists. They no longer wanted bands to make albums, and insisted on them being singles pop artists.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}
Jones, the primary composer of Quintessence, has been extensively touring throughout the United States for the last 20 years. Jones has released numerous recordings of both new material and updated versions of Quintessence songs with his Swiss musical partner, Ralph Rudra Beauvert, via their band Shiva's Quintessence. As of 2014, Jones is performing in the U.S. with Boston-based guitarist Frank M Evans, as Trans-Portal, expressing many of the Quintessence songs in a more intimate and acoustic format.


In 2010, Maha Dev's new Quintessence were invited by [[Michael Eavis]] to play the [[Glastonbury Festival 2010|40th Anniversary Glastonbury Festival]], where they were joined by original vocalist Jones. Produced by [[John Barham]], Quintessence's previous producer, this performance was recorded and released as ''Rebirth: Live At Glastonbury'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rebirth-live-at-glastonbury-mw0002114015 |title=Rebirth: Live At Glastonbury - Quintessence &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2010-07-27 |access-date=2014-07-24 |archive-date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503155334/http://www.allmusic.com/album/rebirth-live-at-glastonbury-mw0002114015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The reunion of Phil Shiva Jones with Dev's Quintessence for the 2010 Glastonbury Festival was documented in a [[BBC One]] ''[[Inside Out (2002 TV programme)|Inside Out]]'' programme which was aired in November 2010.
The Quintessence played on into the 1980s before breaking up.


⚫
Maha Dev's Quintessence continued to perform sporadically in the UK recreating the 'classic' Island Records era Quintessence sound. Dev released his first solo album, and Jones' Quintessence continues to record sporadically. Jake Milton went on to form [[Blurt]] with his brother [[Ted Milton]]. Raja Ram went on to help create the [[psytrance]] style of electronic music in the 1990s, and continues to produce electronic music to this day, being most well known for his involvement in [[Shpongle]].
Jake Milton went on to form [[Blurt]] with his brother [[Ted Milton]].


Maha Dev (born David Codling) died on 5 July 2019 from cancer.<ref>[https://theafterword.co.uk/rip-maha-dev/ "RIP Maha Dev", ''The Afterword'', 6 July 2019] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819104112/https://theafterword.co.uk/rip-maha-dev/ |date=19 August 2019 }}. Retrieved 19 August 2019</ref>
Dev released his first solo album, and Jones' Quintessence continues to record spasmodically.


==Personnel==
⚫
Raja Ram went on to help create the [[psytrance]] style of electronic music in the 1990s, and continues to produce electronic music to this day, being most well known for his involvement in [[Shpongle]].
*Sambhu Babaji - bass guitar <small>(1969-1980)</small>
*Jake Milton - drums, percussion <small>(1969-1980)</small>
*Allan Mostert - lead guitar <small>(1969-1980)</small>
*[[Raja Ram (musician)|Raja Ram]] - flute, percussion <small>(1969-1980)</small>
*Maha Dev - rhythm guitar <small>(1969-1972, 2010; died 2019)</small>
*Phil Shiva Jones - vocals, keyboards, percussion <small>(1969-1972, 2010)</small>


==Discography==
In 2010 Maha Dev's new Quintessence were invited by Micheal Eavis to play the 40th Anniversary Glastonbury Festival where they were joined by original vocalist Shiva Jones. This performance was recorded released as ''Rebirth: Live At Glastonbury'' in 2011. Maha Dev's Quintessence continue to perform sporadically in the UK recreating the 'classic' Island Records era Quintessence sounds. The rebirth of Dev's Quintessence was documented in a BBC 1 [[Inside Out (BBC TV series)|Inside Out]] programme which was aired in November 2010.
;Studio albums

==Album discography==
⚫
NOTE: Sources for this section are as follows:<ref name="AMG Discography">[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p20031/discography|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com - Discography]</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first= David|last= Roberts|year= 2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=446}}</ref>
*''[[In Blissful Company]]'' ([[Island Records]], 1969)
*''[[In Blissful Company]]'' ([[Island Records]], 1969)
*''[[Quintessence (Quintessence album)|Quintessence]]'' (Island Records, 1970) - [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No.&nbsp;22
*''[[Quintessence (Quintessence album)|Quintessence]]'' (Island Records, 1970) - [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No.&nbsp;22
*''[[Dive Deep (Quintessence album)|Dive Deep]]'' (Island Records, 1971) - UK No.&nbsp;43
*''[[Dive Deep (Quintessence album)|Dive Deep]]'' (Island Records, 1971) - UK No.&nbsp;43
*''[[Self (album)|Self]]'' ([[Radio Corporation of America|RCA]], 1972) - UK No.&nbsp;50
*''[[Self (album)|Self]]'' ([[Radio Corporation of America|RCA]], 1972) - UK No.&nbsp;50
⚫
*''[[Indweller]]'' (RCA, 1972)<ref name="AMG Discography">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/quintessence-mn0000381885/discography |title=Quintessence &#124; Discography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2014-07-24 |archive-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118232525/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/quintessence-mn0000381885/discography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first= David|last= Roberts|year= 2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=446}}</ref>
*''[[Indweller]]'' (RCA, 1972)

;Live albums
*''Infinite Love, Live At Queen Elizabeth Hall 1971'' (Hux, 2009)
*''Cosmic Energy, Live At St Pancras 1970'' (Hux, 2009)
*''Rebirth Live At Glastonbury 2010'' (Hux, 2011)


==See also==
==See also==
Line 57: Line 75:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{discogs artist|artist=Quintessence (3)|name=Quintessence}}
*{{discogs artist|artist=Quintessence (3)|name=Quintessence}}
*http://www.mooncowhq.ch/Quintessence/
*[http://www.mooncowhq.ch/Quintessence/ Mooncowhq.ch]
*http://www.myspace.com/cosmicsurfer2009 (official)
*[http://www.myspace.com/cosmicsurfer2009 Official Myspace page]
*[http://www.mooncowhq.ch/Psychedelia.htm/Psychedelia_htm.htm Information on Quintessence, including photos]
*[http://www.mooncowhq.ch/Psychedelia.htm/Psychedelia_htm.htm Information on Quintessence, including photos]
*[http://www.theartbay.co.uk/www.theartbay.co.uk/info.php?p=11&cat=70471 Quintessence merchandise]


{{UK underground}}
{{UK underground}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Quintessence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quintessence}}
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from London]]
[[Category:Musical groups from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1969]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1969]]
[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Psychedelic musical groups]]
[[Category:English alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:English alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:English psychedelic rock music groups]]
[[Category:Freak scene musicians]]

Latest revision as of 04:16, 20 November 2024

Quintessence
Quintessence (Kralingen, 1970)
Quintessence (Kralingen, 1970)
Background information
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresPsychedelic rock, progressive rock, jazz rock, raga rock
Years active1969–1980
(Reunion: 2010)
SpinoffsShpongle, Blurt
Past members
  • Sambhu Babaji
  • Jake Milton
  • Allan Mostert
  • Raja Ram
  • Maha Dev
  • Shiva Shankar Jones

Quintessence were a rock band formed in April 1969 in Notting Hill, London, England.[1] Their style was a mixture of jazz, psychedelic rock and progressive rock with an influence of music from India.[1]

Career

[edit]

The original line-up included Sambhu Babaji (bass guitar), Maha Dev (rhythm guitar), Shiva Shankar Jones (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Jake Milton (drums, percussion), Allan Mostert (lead guitar) (born 1952), and Raja Ram (flute, percussion).[1] Jones, an Australian, had been Phil Jones and with his Sydney band The Unknown Blues had a hit with "If I Had a Ticket" in 1967.

They rehearsed in All Saints Hall which was a converted church near Portobello Road,[2] and recorded three albums for Island Records between 1969 and 1971, with two further albums recorded in 1972 for RCA.[3] The first of the latter set, Self, featured studio material on side one, with the band recorded playing live at Exeter University, on 11 December 1971, on side two.[4]

They built a reputation on solid club work. Besides appearing at the first two Glastonbury Festivals (then called 'Fayres'), in 1970/71, they also were invited to play the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Photo published in 1972
Photo publ. the same year

On 18 September 1971, Quintessence played a benefit concert for Bangladesh at The Oval, Kennington.[5] They appeared on a bill that included The Who, Mott the Hoople, Lindisfarne, Atomic Rooster, The Grease Band and America.[5]

Although Quintessence played many hundreds of concerts and festivals all over Europe, they turned down a U.S. record deal negotiated by Island Records' Chris Blackwell and did not play at a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall lined up in early 1972, or tour the U.S., because four of the band's members wanted a larger monetary advance. This disappointed Blackwell and he dropped the band from the record label. Quintessence then signed with RCA and recorded one album with Jones and Dev.[1] Raja Ram then unexpectedly 'fired' the pair after that album was released. Jones and Dev went on to form the short-lived outfit called Kala.[1] Meanwhile, Quintessence played on into the 1980s before breaking up.

Later activities

[edit]

Jones, the primary composer of Quintessence, has been extensively touring throughout the United States for the last 20 years. Jones has released numerous recordings of both new material and updated versions of Quintessence songs with his Swiss musical partner, Ralph Rudra Beauvert, via their band Shiva's Quintessence. As of 2014, Jones is performing in the U.S. with Boston-based guitarist Frank M Evans, as Trans-Portal, expressing many of the Quintessence songs in a more intimate and acoustic format.

In 2010, Maha Dev's new Quintessence were invited by Michael Eavis to play the 40th Anniversary Glastonbury Festival, where they were joined by original vocalist Jones. Produced by John Barham, Quintessence's previous producer, this performance was recorded and released as Rebirth: Live At Glastonbury in 2011.[6] The reunion of Phil Shiva Jones with Dev's Quintessence for the 2010 Glastonbury Festival was documented in a BBC One Inside Out programme which was aired in November 2010.

Maha Dev's Quintessence continued to perform sporadically in the UK recreating the 'classic' Island Records era Quintessence sound. Dev released his first solo album, and Jones' Quintessence continues to record sporadically. Jake Milton went on to form Blurt with his brother Ted Milton. Raja Ram went on to help create the psytrance style of electronic music in the 1990s, and continues to produce electronic music to this day, being most well known for his involvement in Shpongle.

Maha Dev (born David Codling) died on 5 July 2019 from cancer.[7]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Sambhu Babaji - bass guitar (1969-1980)
  • Jake Milton - drums, percussion (1969-1980)
  • Allan Mostert - lead guitar (1969-1980)
  • Raja Ram - flute, percussion (1969-1980)
  • Maha Dev - rhythm guitar (1969-1972, 2010; died 2019)
  • Phil Shiva Jones - vocals, keyboards, percussion (1969-1972, 2010)

Discography

[edit]
Studio albums
Live albums
  • Infinite Love, Live At Queen Elizabeth Hall 1971 (Hux, 2009)
  • Cosmic Energy, Live At St Pancras 1970 (Hux, 2009)
  • Rebirth Live At Glastonbury 2010 (Hux, 2011)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Bruce Eder. "Quintessence | Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Quintessence Biography". OLDIES.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Quintessence | Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Self - Quintessence | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 230. CN 5585.
  6. ^ "Rebirth: Live At Glastonbury - Quintessence | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  7. ^ "RIP Maha Dev", The Afterword, 6 July 2019 Archived 19 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 August 2019
  8. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 446. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
[edit]
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