siLLy puPPy TONTON MACOUTE released their sole album in 1971 on RCA's shortlived progressive Neon label (which also hosted Spring, Indian Summer and Dando Shaft). The band started out in 1968 when Nigel Reveler (drums) and Paul French (vocals, keyboards, vibes) answered an ad in a magazine and joined up with Chris Gavin (bass, guitars) and Dave Knowles (alto/tenor saxes, flute, clarinet). After several label changes they finally landed their debut album on Neon.

The name was taken from a Haitian paramilitary force created in 1959 which was known for its reign of terror, so what an unlikely name for a band that delivers some of the most breezy and pleasant music that I would refer to as the Camel of jazz-fusion because they only deliver highly soft, melodic and light breezy bluesy jazz-fusion that was in stark contrast to the heavyweights of the era. Traffic and even Chicago come to mind at times. Many of the tracks are long and complex but all are different from one another.

The beginning track “Just Like A Stone” sets the relaxed flute and organ dominated sound that sets the mood of the entire album. The rest of the album follows suit with interesting interplay between the wind intruments, the piano/organ, guitars and bass with occasional vibes. Great riffs, excellent melodies and sizzling solos. Unfortunately the band and the label both went under shortly after this interesting debut. Although this isn't the OMG long lost obscurity that everyone hopes to find, it is nevertheless a very satisfying listen that definitely deserves to have the dust blown off of it.

Miler72 When it comes for proggy British jazz rock, you can't get much more obscure than this! Tonton Macoute released their only album in 1971 on RCA's Neon subsidiary, a label no stranger to jazz as well as prog, like Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Mike Westbrook, Spring, Indian Summer, Raw Material, The Running Man, and others.

The music here includes vocals, sax, flute, electric piano, Hammond organ, bass and drums. "Just Like Stone" is a ballad, it didn't impress me on first listen but isn't bad. I really like how it improves with the next pieces "Don't Make Me Cry" and "Winter" with this nice jazzy psychedelic vibe going on. "Dream" is more of a psychedelic piece sounding strangely more 1968 than 1971. "You Make My Jelly Roll" pretty much straight on jazz, while the last one, "Natural High" is a great proggy two part piece, with some classical influences, as well as jazz. This type of British jazz rock is different from the Colosseum school of jazz rock or the Canterbury school, such as Soft Machine, and I have a difficult time comparing these guys with anyone else, which is fine with me. Too bad this was their only album, but a nice one to own, especially for those looking for off-the-beaten-track stuff.