“Kingdom” 1976. A song from the album by the folk jazz group Dando Shaft. Eight original songs and three trad. arrangements.
This song was written just about fifty years ago. Late ’73 through to ’75 Jenks and Coopz were on the road playing pubs and clubs around the UK. They were given the opportunity to make an album with Rubber Records featuring songs from this collection. Mart had developed friendships with the Newcastle music scene following his work with Hedgehog Pie. At the time Mart was experimenting with best solutions to amplify his Mando-cello. He built and fitted a stereo pickup. It gave a wonderful phased output and groovy sound. The first song he wrote featuring this was ‘Kingdom’. One can clearly hear the influence and ambience the pickup provided in the track, percussive and etherial.
The recording features Funky Folk-meister Kev on Fender electric bass. Kingdom became the title track to the album. It was completed in ’76. It featured contributions from; Danny Thompson Bass, John Stevens Drums, Tommy Kearton Fender Rhodes, Paul Dunmall Saxes, Kev Dempsey Guitar Bass and Vocals, Polly Bolton Vocals, Ted Kay Tabla & Percussion and Rod Clements Bass. Mart then had a call from Bert to join Conundrum and the rest is…… Unfortunately the album Kingdom has been unavailable for a number of years as a result of Celtic Music, the current master rights owners, policy and practise. Recently the work has received critical interest and acclaim along with a wider appraisal of Bulgarian, Eastern European folk-jazz fusion, indie folk and modern folk-jazz ensembles.
