Envizible Orkestra - Band in Leeds EN

ABOUT

NEWS:
The new album from the band is well under way with three new tunes in the can. Expect more classic Progressive/Jazz/Rock from the band including Jon and Mark with new(ish) member Dave Goldthorpe on bass who has been collaborating with Jon for a few years but makes his studio album debut here. The album should be available from the usual places early next year with gigs to follow.

The Anniversary editions of Gadzooks! and Of Heaven Born are here. A little delayed due to the pandemic but orders are now being dispatched. Both albums features brand new mixes from the original multitrack tapes and a collection of contemporary and new bonus tracks including:

A brand new mix of the 1996 Live recordings, most of which is previously unreleased (again remixed from original multitrack masters).

Studio rehearsal recordings

Outtakes

Recordings made at the 2019 Classic Rock Guitar concert to celebrate the bands 30th anniversary.
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HISTORY
ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA was formed in 1989 by Jon Mayson although at this time they did not perform much original material. The original line up was Jon - Guitar & Vocals, Mark Birch - Keyboards, Steven Wright - Drums and Simon Gott - Bass. The next line up and the first to focus on Jon's compositions consisted of Jon plus Tony Willis (Ex-Parallax) - Bass, Adam Taylor - Keyboards, Jim Pitchforth (lately with Jane McDonald) - Drums & Vocals and James Lawton - Violin. This line up was short lived although two live tracks by this line up are included on "WELCOME TO THE SHOW - THE BEST OF THE EARLY YEARS 1991-1996" CD.

Gafro joined the band on Drums in 1992 and played with the band on the 1992 Tour although other commitments were later to make him an intermittent member. Drummer Trevor Griffiths joined the band in 1994 (after Jon had played keyboards for his band Wambat) along with bassist Jezz Watson who was an old friend Jon knew after seeing his Blues band play around the Wakefield area. This line up of Jon, Trevor and Jez recorded the six track album "GADZOOKS!". They were augmented by keyboard genius Nigel Chapman and Percussion wizard Peter (Pierre) Birkby who later joined 60s and 70s superstar Shirley Bassey's band. This period was a very busy one for ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA with plenty of gigs.

The following year "OF HEAVEN BORN" was recorded featuring nine tracks (two re-arrangements of pieces from "GADZOOKS!") but due to other engagements Jez Watson was unable to supply his superb bass skills to either the album or subsequent tour. He was replaced by the formidable Adrian (Bill) Bailey, one of two Sleepy People band members who can be heard on the album. (The Sleepy People started out as The Rainy Days and in 2015 Jon was honoured to be part of the line up of that band for a memorial concert in memory of their Drummer Sean Turner.) The Sleepys would later divide to become the bands Blue Apple Boy and Ultrasound. Jon Recorded Ultrasound's first demos at his Maysonic Studios, the band went on to achieve minor chart success. Rachel Hope is the second Sleepy band member to feature on "OF HEAVEN BORN" where she supplies backing vocals. The album is completed by internationally renowned Saxophonist Nathan Birchall who provides some wonderful playing that compliments Jon's Guitar. Ian Stevenson and David Vause - Keyboards and Mat Gibling - Flute.

After the 1996 tour the band was put on the back burner for a while only playing one gig for a TV show to promote the sixteen track compilation CD "WELCOME TO THE SHOW" in 1997. The TV appearance featured the then current line up of Jon, Paul Seaman - Electric Piano (who also played additional Electric Piano on Forge The Triangle), Graham Foster - Drums and Glenn Allott on Bass who also co wrote on the next album, played with Jon in Soul Distinction and Paracelsus and was later to rejoin the band in time to play on "A CATHARSIS OF SCIENCE" . Glenn had previously played with Gary Husband in The Jazz/Rock band The Truth Unfolds as well as stints with Manhattan Sound, The Bachelors, Les Dawson, Bob Monkhouse and Charlie Cairoli.

In 2002 "FORGE THE TRIANGLE" was released and was highly praised by fans and reviewers alike. The nine track album features a strong collection of Progressive/Jazz/Rock tunes with Jez Watson - Bass, Gafro - Drums and Richard Simpkins - Keyboards. Jon also ran a Canterbury covers band called PARACELSUS and a seven piece Soul band called SOUL DISTINCTION. Whilst playing with PARACELSUS Jon worked with Mark Lee, the formidable Drummer who had previously worked as a session musician with Bucks Fizz and Norman Wisdom to name but Two. Mark was the first choice when it came to reboot ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA.

2018 saw the release of "A CATHARSIS OF SCIENCE" a five track album containing around 65 minutes of Classic Progressive Jazz Rock. Prog Magazine called it "tastefully blazing". The band played a special 30th anniversary gig in 2019 and this band were due to play more gigs and record a new album in 2020 but the pandemic put a temporary halt to these plans. To keep the momentum going the bands first two albums (that are previously unreleased) have been remixed from the original tapes and augmented with a host of bonus recordings and will be available from the 28th November 2020. The band hope to be recording new material for the next ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA album in 2021 all things permitting.
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PURCHASING
All our albums can be purchased directly through our Maysonic ebay shop or from our Bandcamp pages.

Go to the music section to hear or download:
"Live A Little Longer(single remix)" from "A catharsis Of Science"
"Take A Pile Of Dust (edited remix)" from "Forge The Triangle"
"Gadzooks!" from "Gadzooks!"
"And after all that.." from "Of Heaven Born"
"Tundra" (Live 1996) from live bonus recordings supplementing the new editions of Gadzooks! and Of Heaven Born.
"We Stand Alone" (Live 2019) from live bonus recordings supplementing the new editions of Gadzooks! and Of Heaven Born.
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GIGS
Watch this space for tour 2023 dates:
All planed activity on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions.

2019 gig dates:
7th June, THE MALT SHOVEL, 417 Bradford Road, Carr Gate, Wakefield, WF2 0QW + support from The Guitar Ensemble IV
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ALBUMS
GADZOOKS! (Recorded1994) (Released 2020)
Era Biecc - Oasis - Water - Gadzooks! - Sand - Sahara.

OF HEAVEN BORN (Recorded1995) (Released 2020)
Light House - Under Fresh Light - And After All That We Decided To Return To The Seas Anyway - We Lost Our Way - The Vision - Tundra - Of Heaven Born.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW 1991-1996 (1997)
1991 Concert Intro - One As A Whole - Welcome To The Show - Light House - Under Fresh Light - Motivate Yourself - Sahara - And After All That We Decided To Return To The Seas Anyway - Gadzooks! - Oasis/Water - New Age Song - Tundra - Era Biecc - Of Heaven Born - We Lost Our Way - The End Of The Show.

FORGE THE TRIANGLE (2002)
We Stand Alone - What We've Become - Kasterborus - Take A Pile Of Dust - A Tune With No Name - Forge The Triangle - I Will Always Be Near - The Blinovitch Effect - Here On This Hill.

A CATHARSIS OF SCIENCE (2018)
Constant And Everchanging - Live A Little Longer (Suite) - Infinite Possibility - The Evolution Of The Long Distance Runner - Corona - The One That Counts.
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WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT THE BAND

THE JOURNAL OF THE CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY:
“musically they produce a blend of jazzy prog, with excellent guitar and keyboard work. Their strengths are in the smooth jazzy instrumentals along the lines of soft machine, such as ‘kasterborus’, where guitarist Jon Mayson really shines”

ATROPOS ART ROCK MAGAZINE:
“ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA “FORGE THE TRIANGLE” EXCELENT…is an intelligent blend of progressive jazz rock with superb lyrics and instrumentation. Reminds me sometimes of the best times of CARAVAN!”

CROHINGA THE PSYCHEDELIC MAGAZINE:
“progressive rock from the Leeds area!…ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA plays a difficult to pinpoint hybrid mix of melodic jazz rock and more progressive moves...Most of the time they sound to me like a cross between CARAVAN and RETURN TO FOREVER though it would be unfair to label them with these two names since (the) ENVIZIBLE ORKESTRA offers a lot more”

HEMISPHERE INDIPENDANT MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR:
“UK band with a late period GONG feel, lashings of instrumental wig outs and HILLAGE HOLDSWORTH guitar solo’s”

WILD PLACES PSYCHEDELIC/PROG DISTRIBUTOR:
“hot band blending dream sequences, satriani-esque guitar work prog and some jazzy moves.”

THE FREAK EMPORIUM:
“accomplished musicianship with guitars (electric and acoustic), keyboards, and drums/bass that is reminiscent of Holdsworth and John Scofield in places”

ROCK FACTORY:
"Yorkshires best kept Prog/Rock Secret"

PROG MAGAZINE:
"tastefully blazing"
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FOR BOOKINGS CALL: 01924 871114
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