Jade Warrior - Esoteric Recordings - CD Reviews & Unboxing - Now Spinning Magazine

[@ralphconfredosartistchanne8066]

I was introduced to them in the 70s by a friend who had varied, excellent taste in music and loved them immediately. Their ability to blend ambient, classical, funk, etc. knocked me out. Eno meets Traffic meets Hendrix listening to classical hanging out with Robert Fripp.

[@plutogamstrumframe]

I recorded two of my demos with Tony Duhig just before he sadly passed away , kindly played on one of them , such a nice guy ,

[@toddmcdaniels1567]

Great band. I have many of them on vinyl too. My favorites were Released, Floating World and Kites. A more recent one was made called Now is very nice too. It gets back to a relatively more conventional band sound, sorta kinda.

[@lunatic7700]

I love Jade Warrior since 1973 I got all the albums with Gleen Havard. "Relased" the fantastic first one of all.

[@fraserhoggan9723]

Well I am one of those who had never heard of them before. No longer. I am now in. I am all the way in! :)

[@frankdenter863]

I'm proud to be the owner of all their albums on CD (some for more than 25 years), including the post 'Island' albums 'Horizen', 'At Peace', 'Breathing the Storm' & 'Distant Echoes', the latter two with Dave Sturt on bass (now a member of 'Gong') and their "comeback" album 'Now' from 2008 with the return of Glyn Havard. Thank you, Phil, for this great feature about this totally underrated band. btw the 'Wind Borne' box has also been released by 'Island' in 1995 as 'Elements'.

[@stuartrobertson3658]

Well Phil, you have more than 1.comment on Jade Warrior this time,I commend you for putting a light on this marvellous band . Jade Warrior actually morphed from UK psych act July, who issued one self titled psych/pop artefact LP in 1968, replete with sitar, backward tape loops, effects laden vocals with some jaunty and possibly juvenile numbers on what i personally think is a top period piece of an album. Jade Warrior debut is a rather eclectic affair, some really quiet moments as you mentioned, but also some smashing flute along with surprising fuzzed up guitar moments,with a mix of Far Eastern influences,pre ambience and new age pointers, with early progressive moves,but I also detect a slight folk influence, it's certainly not fully heavy progressive rock as such, and I wouldn't call them a strictly prog only band as they cover so much ground with a multitude of influences, with dark and light, with lovely quiet mellow moments followed by more rock influences but still with a world music and new age influence....I need to get those Island Records albums,as I've not got the second phase of Jade Warrior, that wee clamshell box set looks intriguing,but those first 2 albums will not be for everyone,but it's so interesting with so many different sounds and influences, I'd STILL say to those more adventurous music listeners, to give those first 2 albums a spin. Thank you Phil, for covering a little known but well worth while band, that is Jade Warrior .👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Stuart, thank you for watching and sharing the extra info on this underrated band. This video has done very well and the amount of comments has surprised me. However, I hope it helps introduce Jade Warrior to new fans over time. Phil

[@TomM-v5e]

I also first heard Jade Warrior on WRPI in Troy NY as well, Bourne on to the Solar Wind caught my ear and I bought Last Autumn’s Dream back in the early 70’s. Have been able to listen to their entire history on Spotify, really like the Island releases, and Breathing in the Storm

[@FredHoughton-t1p]

@@TomM-v5e Yes! Same here - one of the DJs used Borne on the Solar Wind as his show's theme - I think it was on Sundays. Used to hear it every week.

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Very well presented indeed Phil, thanks very much indeed, I am 69 next month so I have always been, very aware of this band, picked up the sleeves,then put them back, in the rack again, and believe it or not, to this day, I have never heard, a thing by them, and I still buy cds too.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi John, thank you for watching. Everyday is a school day no matter what our age is! Phil :)

[@bardicci]

I discovered this band when it first debuted in 1971; I was 12 years old at the time, my brother and I enraptured listening to esoteric offerings from College radio coming from WRPI, Troy NY - I am a lifelong fan of these phenomenal musicians

[@Norshammar72]

Thanks as always Phil! I will pull the trigger of these ones ☀️

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hope you like them ! Phil :)

[@GenProwl]

Thanks for doing this video. I found them a number of years ago with Waves and never looked back, so I hope others will see this ands discover a great band

[@JCridford]

Thanks for making this video, Phil. There really isn't enough Jade Warrior content around. I came across them in a prog special edition of Q magazine back in maybe 2005; I think they got all of 20 words. But the cover art of the first album looked cool so I managed to track down a CD and hand over my cash. I was 15 at the time, so buying an album was a real treat. Suffice to say all these years later I lapped up these box sets. In terms of guitar sound, I agree with you. There is something of a 'sting' to the tone that is quite unique and almost at odds with the beautiful music around it. They really stood on their own patch of ground!

[@clevebaker8399]

I was bidding on an acetate on KZbin around 1998-99. I missed the bid but a fine gentleman who won the bid, sent me a cd copy of the said album!! It was ‘eclipse’ by jade warrior an unreleased album!! Every jade warrior album is killer!! Awesome job! Thanks

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Great story, thank you for watching - Phil

[@clevebaker8399]

@@jogischulz2576 great job and choice!! Awesome to hear from folks who love the great work of prog!! And to Phil excellent job

[@clevebaker8399]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Phil you are the best!! Great work

[@st.michael9708]

Hi Phil, yeah ... They are a Hidden Treasure for sure, I like the first 2 Albums best and on third Place is for me The Way of the Sun. Jade Warrior is like America's Band SPIRIT ( with Randy California ) they are pure Magic, start listen with the early Albums first, or the Italien Band: New Trolls ... no one knows Them sadly.

[@molotulo8808]

I got into Jade Warrior in 1974, I was 14. I bought Released and Last Autumn's Dream! Great music and I fell in love with their music and soon bought Jade Warrior, the first album. Later, I bought Floating World, then Wavws, the Kites, and then Way of the Sun. I preferred the band with Glyn Havard. I bought Horizons and twenty years (or so), Breathing the Storm and Eclipse and Fifth Element. I never owned Peace or Now, but I listen to them on KZbin. I was 15, when I embroidered their Floating World logo on a white vest. I have to do a video about it.

[@ricardoleon6142]

Hello. One of the best bands from UK prog classic period. Much better than many of the big names. Released CD reissue wasn't showed. My favourites are The Island period + Released. Vintage Vinyl from Jade Warrior is very expensive and hard to find. Beautiful covers of course on vinyl. CD tries but is never enough to show the great hand made art of the originals. A week ago just received the Island 4 CD box set and has excellent sound very nice booklet and good paper in every cover. Very good to excellent to masterpieces on every Jade Warrior recordings from the seventies. Saludos desde México.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts on the wonderful band. Phil

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Just downloaded a load on Apple Music and will give them a try. I am a massive Mike Oldfield fan so hopefully they are as good as you say.

[@paddyboyle7107]

I totally agree with the island albums. Bought Floating World back in the day because I liked to cover. It blew me away, must have been about 16/17 years of age. Proceeded to get all four island albums and play them to this day, never tire of them and they are still unknown to the general public. None of the prog rock reviewers, except you, list them or even mention them. The only fly in the ointment with the band is that I'm not too keen on the early or later albums when they sing.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you - Phil

[@waynegoucher4503]

Listened to debut album only four years ago but the vinyl was too expensive until recently :) wonderful music.

[@mmmoohya]

Definitely a band to listen to! The first album is mind-opening, exploring new territories, ethnic psychedelic music: no drums, just oriental percussions, flute, bass and an astonishing guitar. Prog world music with a dash of jazz. From the second record onwards, they also started using drums, too without losing their uniqueness. "Released" is a bit heavier than the first, while "Last Autumn's Dream" moves towards peaceful athmospheres. The subsequent albums are instrumental. All absolutely worth listening and ageless!

[@edwardgivenscomposer]

Lovely to see this. They were an amazing group and I'm thrilled to see people appreciating their music. They've been a huge influence on me and my own music since I was a teenager, particularly Waves and Kites. One thing noteworthy about them is that they were so willing to create huge dynamic contrasts - from blissful landscapes of sound to frenetic electric guitar mayhem. To achieve that "spirit of peace" they contrasted violence or turbulence. Not simply new age wall paper music but something that helps you hear the real value of peace and serenity. Profound, imaginative and just plain beautiful music.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Totally agree 👍

[@jegarajramoo3873]

Thank you for the introduction. Missed out on this great band during my schooldays.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@ganeshganesh67]

Fantastic,

[@fraserhoggan9723]

I see that there will be a box release of the first three (Vertigo) albums in June ... looking forward to that

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

Good morning Phil Greetings from Western Australia Just ordered this from Amazon . . . A bargain at $62.00 Australian. Another great review Thanks 😂❤

[@scotsirish4194]

Thank you for this excellent summary

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

You are very welcome 🙏

[@lippmb78]

👋 hi Phil thank you for your wonderful insight into the rock group that no one never heard of.After watching one of your videos last year on Jade Warrior I decided to buy the first two CDs,they sound quite interestingly unique for a British prog group.And then I got some of CDs (both esoteric and repitoire)including Elements,the island anthology(1974-1978) it’s prog rock sound with Asian influences that is best how I describe it. It’s such a beautiful journey listening to this kind of music,Anyway thanks again 😊👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and taking a chance on Jade Warrior. It would be so easy to just stick to doing videos about the big names or jump of trending themes. I do have to do that of course (otherwise I would vanish) but I do want to ensure I take risks on bands where it might be quite possible that hardly anyone will watch it! Phil

[@alanbrown4050]

I have the Elements 2cd set. The sound on the Esoteric is much improved over the Elements set. Also Island had to trim one of the albums for Elements in order to fit both albums onto one cd. 👍

[@brianimig]

Thank you so much for this video. As others have said-no one in music journalism except John Diliberto seems to champion this unique band. One way I have begun to describe the Island era albums is a sort of progressive/psychedelic modern [for the 1970s] Exotica. Back in the 1970s perhaps Exotica might have seemed pejorative, however now days I think folks would get a more evocative picture of the music if described this way. Also kudos must be given to lead guitarist Tony's brother David Duhig who played on Last Autumn's Dream, Waves [jamming with Steve Winwood] Floating World [the wild solo on "Monkey Chant"] and toured [briefly] with the band in the U.S... You are doing a great service by putting this video out there, thank you again good sir

[@alanbrown4050]

I have all the JW albums from Island and just ordered Wind Bourne as my vinyl is old now. Wonderful band and tragic regarding their demise. I never bought the early Vertigo albums. During the 1970s I bought many albums from Island and Chrysalis which is why I boughtJade Warrior. Phil that was a great presentation for the band. It's going to make me go and search the other 4 cds I don't have. Those Island years of JW albums are superb in every way.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Alan, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts on this wonderful band. Phil

[@timthepainter3454]

Discovered JW when waves came out, about the time I was deeply discovering Rennaissance. Had already been deep into early Genesis, Tull, and Gentle Giant. They are like no other, the Island years 4 albums are just superb. Way of the Sun is fabulous, particularly the song Way of the Sun, so blisteringly intense with superb percussion. Happy to see them get the recognition and documentaion they so deserve.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@ralphmilano1703]

just picked up a nice vinyl copy of the 2nd lp released on vertigo label, good sounding lp!!!

[@txmatt2112]

Never heard of this band but I just purchased that box set and really excited to hear something new! Amazon had only copies left ! Can’t wait and thank you from Texas!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@147decibel]

Thanks for this great insight into the Jade Warrior catalogue. I had heard of the band but never explored them and a couple of weeks ago I found two Jade Warrior CD's still sealed on the Repertoire label for £1 each, Eclipse and Now in a charity shop. I might check the albums in your recommended order before listening to these ones, which appear to be more recent releases.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hope you enjoy them ! Thank you for watching - Phil

[@johneyreguitar]

The music has stayed with me

[@lizziegray2927]

Mwenga sketch is genius would love eclipse on vinyl

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Yeah I really like Jade Warrior, I got into them about twenty years ago when I got obsessed with the Vertigo label.Yeah I really dig them ,got all the Vertigo and island albums on vinyl fantastic.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Very unique band, you are right

[@jonathanpearman1052]

Enjoyed your review and appreciate that you put their releases into context, historical and personal, which makes for good listening. Loved their Island sleeve covers and Wind Borne is a beautiful box set.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@TractorCountdown]

I've been looking forward to this, Phil, as I only know of the band (I'm sure Pete Pardo has mentioned them) but have never listened to any of their albums, so thank you! I'll check out your other video on the earlier albums. I've just watched it - well, you did say you'd reused the unboxing part from then :). Cheers, Ian.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Ian, thank you for watching. I felt the other video got lost and the KZbin algorithm just pushed it down the list due to lack of interest. So I thought I would make this a band overview to see if it gained more traction…. And it has - Phil :)

[@TractorCountdown]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I've placed an order with Cherry Red :)

[@HawklordLI]

I feel sorry for those not familiar with Jade Warrior. I've been a fan since the early 80's.

[@poglingtonpog]

I have the four albums from the box on Remastered reissues and they are magnificent, for whatever reason I could never find the others but now with those being reissued I shall try and complete the collection, it's been a while since I played the ones I have so that will change over the next few days as I'm going to pull them out ASAP! Keep Rocking Phil!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Chris, great band! It’s amazing that Cherry Red / Esoteric have it easier to buy these albums than it was in the 70s! Phil :)

[@styrmugnsell4560]

This might be a new great discovery for me! Doesn't happen every day, great and thanks a lot! 🙂 Is the box set completely instrumental?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

There some vocal effects on a couple of tracks on Floating world but by the time they got to Island Records they were 100% instrumental. Phil

[@styrmugnsell4560]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Thanks for the info and have a great day!

[@thomaswery3087]

I have most of Jade Warrior really enjoy their music but I have to be in the mood because they are different.But I'm a prog guy and I enjoy this music much better than say AC/DC I can't seem to get through one of their albums in one sitting lol

[@TheSoundrookie]

Hi Phil. Thanks for the tip. I always love checking out new or otherwise to me unknown music, so please keep them coming. The music in this case doesn't do it for me though being totally into prog, but one can not strike gold every time, right? I maybe also have a tip for you. Do you know Gypsy? Californian band - Houseband at Whiskey A GoGo - Also prog rock. Not very known since they didn't make singles or got much play time on the radio due to long tracks, but their albums are amazing. Their double debut album was re-released last year, and I hoping that their second album (In the Garden) will be re-released as well at some point (sure wish to get my hands on that one too). If you don't already know them, just search for "Gypsy - Gypsy 1970" here on YT. Ps. I have tried to answer you about the multi purpose cleaning wipes, but my messages keep disappearing. Maybe due to the links. Stay awesome Mate. All the best from Denmark.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏 I haven’t heard of that band but with check them out. It probably is the links ! Can you contact me via the website? Thank you - Phil

[@TheSoundrookie]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi Phil. Just did. Ps. If you want to know more about Gypsy there's a documentary here on YT. They have quite an interesting story. Just put the following in the search bar: "Gypsy: Rock & Roll Nomads" Full Documentary (2016)

[@paulduggan5323]

Jade who? Ignore that, that was just before I watched this video. Since watching I am now heavily into “Way Of The Sun”, “Jade Warrior” and “Last Autumn’s Dream” and now declare myself both a fan and staggered. Staggered as to why this morning I’d never even heard of them! Why was I not aware of this band back in the 70’s? Well that’s the power of the internet, exchange of knowledge moving at the speed of light. And it’s testimony to Now Spinnings ability to leave no stone unturned, what the hell will you have me listening to by the end of the month or week even! I always thought that Supergrass would go on to be one of the biggest bands in the world, I still don’t understand how Diamond Head never went on to become the next big thing as Sounds predicted more than once. But Jade Warrior? This is immense, how this band stayed so comfortably under my radar for over 4 decades is both unfathomable and criminal. They should have long since taken their place at the high table of Prog with Yes and Co. Thanks Phil

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Paul, I remember before doing this video wondering if anyone would watch it. It has generated a lot interest and even sold a few box sets and more importantly introduced a lot of people to Jade Warrior. I feel very good about that ! Phil

[@colin2552]

This is a fantastic band,not for everybody but if you are a real progressive rock fan ,you really need to start listening to jade warrior.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil :)

[@thoondor843]

Are these a reissue of the 4 Island remastered and reissued separate discs made in 2006 by Eclectic? They may be, because Eclectic was renamed Esoteric in about 2008. If this is the case, then to call them newly remastered editions is somewhat disingenuous, since the remasters are now 18 years old. Or have the now Esoteric team gone back once again, as they did in 2006, and attempted new 2023 remasters, completely new ones? It would be interesting to know, especially as the supposed excellent 2006 remasters weren't that good in my opinion. One has to sit there turning the volume up and down, and up and down, because large parts cannot be heard, and other parts are screaming loud, there is very little equalization of sound, kind of like when you go to the movies and the dialogue is at a certain volume but the music and sound is about 5 times louder and nearly blows your ear drums out. I'd hope these are a new remaster for 2023 because the people at Eclectic/Esoteric were also not happy with the 2006 effort, but I won't go out and buy these until I know if this is the case, otherwise I suppose I'll just have to stick with the 2006 remastered reissues.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Remastered by Paschal Byrne 2023

[@thoondor843]

Thanks Phil, I'll purchase Way of the Sun and do a comparison (on ear phones) - Cheers.

[@jean-lucpernel2202]

Beautiful sleeves But not remember MUSIC.!

[@brucegelman5582]

If you dont know Jade Warrior you cannot be a serious old prog head.