Michael Chapman is sometimes classified as a folk-rock or even folk singer/songwriter. But by the time this live concert was recorded at
the Nottingham Playhouse on July 23, 1977, he'd really transcended those labels and delved into a full-bodied rock sound also influenced by jazz and progressive styles. In that sense, his evolution was somewhat similar to that of fellow British guitarist
John Martyn, though the music of those two singer/songwriters isn't too much alike. Recorded in good fidelity, this show has
Chapman fronting a trio, bolstered by the rhythm section of noted blues-rock drummer
Keef Hartley and
Lindisfarne bassist
Rod Clements. The material is drawn from several albums
Chapman made between the late '60s and mid-'70s, dating back as early as
"It Didn't Work Out" (from his debut LP,
Rainmaker), though it leans toward his more recent mid-'70s work.
Chapman stretches out more than was his wont in the studio -- the ten songs take up nearly 70 minutes -- sometimes engaging in extended instrumental sparring with the other musicians with rapid-flurry, rubbery soloing. There's even a drum solo on
"Sea of Wine," and a cover of
Booker T. & the MG's'
"Time Is Tight" as the finale, though neither of those performances play to
Chapman's strong suits. This set doesn't capture the strongest or most definitive performances and interpretations of
Chapman's material, owing to the limitations of the trio format and arrangements that don't ideally complement the compositions. But for serious fans, it's worth checking out precisely because these aren't like the most familiar versions, documenting his explorations of a format that was in some senses more stripped-down than others he'd used, though in other respects it was looser and more expansive. ~ Richie Unterberger
