Wave 1972-1974 (Based in London)
Tim Disney (vocals, harmonica), Jan Hart (piano, lead guitar), Steve Harris (drums), John Sanderson (flute, saxophone), Mick Wheat (bass guitar).
from http://timdisney.co.uk/music/113-2/ (no longer exists)
The earliest extant recording of Tim’s music dates to 1973. At this time he was living in Islington, London and his daughter Catherine had been born in March of this year. He had formed the band Wave and was also collaborating with the musicians Mike Khan and Malcom Peet, a duo called Almeida, who had a residency at the King’s Head Pub on Upper Street. Like Tim, Mike haled from Nottingham and they were close friends. Mike, in collaboration with the playwright Steph Lowe, who was an old school friend of Tim’s from his time at Mundella School, had been writing a musical, The Goose Fair Show. This was based around the annual three-day fair which was held on the Forest Recreation ground in Nottingham. On 4 th October 1973, a concert of the songs from the show was held at the ICA in London. The first part of the concert was given over to the band Wave and it is this performance which is the earliest recording of Tim’s work. During the rest of the evening, Almeida and Wave performed the songs from the show and Tim and Mike presented comic sketches. There were topless dancers, a fire eater, a huge motorbike which was driven onto the stage and superb music. It was a night of vibrant energy and creative joy. As Jane Wheat remembers,
‘An eclectic mix of jazz, rock & blues, Tim’s band ‘Wave’ played an amazing gig at London’s ICA in 1973 that I was very fortunate to see. With a powerhouse rhythm section (Steve Harris – drums, Mick Wheat – bass) providing a funky backbeat, ‘Wave’ was ahead of its time. Tim’s vocals and beautifully melodic harp playing were complemented by John Sanderson on sax & flute. Their call and response phrasing was a joy to experience. With the addition of the young keyboard player, Jan Hart, ‘Wave’ was the complete package.’
This recording of the event was made by Anna’s dad, Ken Rowat, from the audience using a small cassette recorder. The first sound on the recording is one of baby Catherine’s first vocalisations which he put on to commemorate what was a very significant year for Tim.
Tim had been in Twenty Per Cent, the Red House Blues band in the 60’s, a band called Axis in the early 70’s, Merlin’s Wake, Phonograph and Badger in the early 70’s, Wave circa 73 in London and forming Desperate Dann in 1974 back in Nottingham.
Steve Harris (drums), John Sanderson (flute, saxophone), Mick Wheat (bass guitar) had all been in Woody Kern in the late 1960’s releasing an album and single.