In Cahoots
Encyclopedia
In Cahoots is a Canterbury scene
band led by guitarist Phil Miller
, their main composer.
The band was formed in November 1982 by Miller with Pip Pyle
(†) (drums), Richard Sinclair
(bass) and Elton Dean
(†) (saxophone
), as the Phil Miller Quartet. It was expanded to a quintet and given its definitive name when Peter Lemer
(keyboards) joined in early 1983. Miller and Pyle had been working together in National Health
and had been in Hatfield and the North
with Sinclair before that, while Pyle and Dean were longstanding collaborators too, recently having worked together in the Weightwatchers (with pianist Keith Tippett
) and Soft Heap
. Early in 1985, Hugh Hopper
replaced Sinclair. The band appeared on Miller's first solo album, Cutting Both Ways (released 1987).
In 1987, Steve Franklin replaced Lemer, and in 1988 Fred Baker replaced Hopper. This line-up appeared on Miller's solo album Split Seconds, while In Cahoots Live 86-89 was released in 1989 (released under the name Phil Miller/In Cahoots like all their albums). In 1990, Franklin left and the band was joined by Jim Dvorak on trumpet
. Baker and Lemer appeared on Miller's Digging In (1991), which also had programmed drums by Pip Pyle.
In 1991, Miller and Pyle were reunited with Hopper in Short Wave
. In Cahoots continued with a Japanese tour, including Lemer, documented on Live in Japan (1993). The next studio effort, Recent Discoveries, was recorded in 1993. Lemer rejoined the band in 1995 and they recorded Parallel (1996) and Out of the Blue (2001), which saw Caravan
guitarist Doug Boyle
sitting in on two tracks (he also took part in a brief European tour that year).
In 2002, Mark Fletcher replaced Pyle and the line-up of Miller, Fletcher, Dean, Dvorak, Baker and Lemer released All That in 2003. In 2004, Dean and Dvorak left and, since then, the brass section consists of Simon Picard on tenor sax, Simon Finch on trumpet, and occasionally Gail Brand on trombone. Former Short Wave collaborator Didier Malherbe
, however, was the featured saxophonist on Miller's latest effort, 2006's Conspiracy Theories, which also included guest spots by Richard Sinclair
, Dave Stewart and Doug Boyle.
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
band led by guitarist Phil Miller
Phil Miller
Phil Miller is an English progressive rock/jazz guitarist who was part of the Canterbury scene.He was a member of the bands Delivery, Matching Mole, Hatfield and the North, National Health, Short Wave and has since worked in solo projects and in his band In Cahoots, which he founded in 1982...
, their main composer.
The band was formed in November 1982 by Miller with Pip Pyle
Pip Pyle
Phillip "Pip" Pyle was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France...
(†) (drums), Richard Sinclair
Richard Sinclair
Richard S. Sinclair is a progressive rock bassist, guitarist and vocalist who has been a member of several bands of the Canterbury scene.-Biography:...
(bass) and Elton Dean
Elton Dean
Elton Dean was an English jazz musician who performed on alto saxophone, saxello and occasionally keyboard....
(†) (saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
), as the Phil Miller Quartet. It was expanded to a quintet and given its definitive name when Peter Lemer
Peter Lemer
Peter Lemer is an English jazz musician. He worked with the Pete Lemer Quintet, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Annette Peacock, Harry Beckett, Gilgamesh, Baker Gurvitz Army, Seventh Wave, Harry Beckett's Joy Unlimited, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Mike Oldfield Group, In Cahoots, Miller/Baker/Lemer...
(keyboards) joined in early 1983. Miller and Pyle had been working together in National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
and had been in Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.-Career:...
with Sinclair before that, while Pyle and Dean were longstanding collaborators too, recently having worked together in the Weightwatchers (with pianist Keith Tippett
Keith Tippett
Keith Tippett is a British jazz pianist and composer.Tippett, the son of a local police officer, went to Greenway Boys Secondary Modern school in Southmead, Bristol. He formed his first jazz band called The KT7 whilst still at school and they performed numbers popular at the time by The Temperance...
) and Soft Heap
Soft Heap (band)
Soft Heap was a Canterbury scene supergroup founded in January 1978. The name references Soft Machine while "Heap" comes from the first letters of the band's founders: Hugh Hopper , Elton Dean , Alan Gowen and Pip Pyle . Hopper and Dean had worked together in Soft Machine, while Gowen and Pyle had...
. Early in 1985, Hugh Hopper
Hugh Hopper
Hugh Colin Hopper was a progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and various other related bands.-Early career:...
replaced Sinclair. The band appeared on Miller's first solo album, Cutting Both Ways (released 1987).
In 1987, Steve Franklin replaced Lemer, and in 1988 Fred Baker replaced Hopper. This line-up appeared on Miller's solo album Split Seconds, while In Cahoots Live 86-89 was released in 1989 (released under the name Phil Miller/In Cahoots like all their albums). In 1990, Franklin left and the band was joined by Jim Dvorak on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
. Baker and Lemer appeared on Miller's Digging In (1991), which also had programmed drums by Pip Pyle.
In 1991, Miller and Pyle were reunited with Hopper in Short Wave
Short Wave (band)
Short Wave Live is the only album by Short Wave, a UK band related to the Canterbury Scene, consisting of Hugh Hopper , Didier Malherbe , Phil Miller and Pip Pyle .The band was formed in 1991...
. In Cahoots continued with a Japanese tour, including Lemer, documented on Live in Japan (1993). The next studio effort, Recent Discoveries, was recorded in 1993. Lemer rejoined the band in 1995 and they recorded Parallel (1996) and Out of the Blue (2001), which saw Caravan
Caravan (band)
Caravan are an English band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Caravan rose to success over a period of several years from 1968 onwards into the 1970s as part of the Canterbury scene, blending...
guitarist Doug Boyle
Doug Boyle
Doug Boyle is a guitarist and composer, best known for his work with Robert Plant, Nigel Kennedy and later incarnations of Caravan.-Biography:...
sitting in on two tracks (he also took part in a brief European tour that year).
In 2002, Mark Fletcher replaced Pyle and the line-up of Miller, Fletcher, Dean, Dvorak, Baker and Lemer released All That in 2003. In 2004, Dean and Dvorak left and, since then, the brass section consists of Simon Picard on tenor sax, Simon Finch on trumpet, and occasionally Gail Brand on trombone. Former Short Wave collaborator Didier Malherbe
Didier Malherbe
Didier Antonin Malherbe is a saxophonist and flautist. He was one of the founders of the Canterbury sound band Gong....
, however, was the featured saxophonist on Miller's latest effort, 2006's Conspiracy Theories, which also included guest spots by Richard Sinclair
Richard Sinclair
Richard S. Sinclair is a progressive rock bassist, guitarist and vocalist who has been a member of several bands of the Canterbury scene.-Biography:...
, Dave Stewart and Doug Boyle.