The Head

Sometimes known as "the haggis of jazz fusion bands," the small combo Head were active in Glasgow in the '70s. The rhythm section of drummer Billy Kyle and bassist Graham Mince were consistent factors in the three albums released by the group over a five-year period, as was the presence of multi-instrumentalist John Davies, who doubled on keyboards and trumpet. Other members of the group changed from album to album, guitarist Charles Alexander drifting away to be replaced by Lachlan McColl, saxophonist Gordon Cruickshank taking up where previous honker Howard Copland had left off. Self-determination, an important concept in documenting improvised music during the '70s, was vital to the Head liturgy. The group's debut release -- entitled GTF in reference to a crude Scottish way of suggesting someone should depart quickly -- was released through SRT, basically a vanity consortium. The band started up its own label, Head Records, for its final and most commercial production, Blackpool Cool. This Head should not be confused with other bands that use this name, such as a more recent outfit fronted by Gareth Sager. ~ Eugene Chadbourne