Banzai -

Banzai was a Belgian jazz-rock that released three singles and the 1974 album Hora Nata.

Members: Peter Torfs (organ, piano, strings, Moog, vocals), Evert Verhees (acoustic guitar, bass, bass pedals, piano, vocals), John Mc O (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals), Ludwig Kemat (tumbas, metallophones, marimba, vibraphone, percussion), Erry Fox (drums, percussion)

Background

Banzai formed in 1971 in Antwerp, a Flemish port city on the River Scheldt. In 1973, they placed third in a Humo magazine readers poll.

Their popularity grew with an August appearance at the ninth annual Bilzen Rock & Jazz Festival, which also featured sets by Argent, Barclay James Harvest, Beggars Opera, Golden Earring, Medicine Head, Procol Harum, Soft Machine, and Wizzard. After further festival slots with Focus and Kayak, Banzai readied material for an album on Delta, a Dutch jazz and pop label.

Hora Nata

Banzai released their singular album, Hora Nata, in late 1974 on Delta. It features a prelude and four multi-movement suites, each co-composed by bassist Evert Verhees and drummer Erry Fox.

From the “Obelisk” suite, Philips/Delta extracted section B (the album’s title track) as a single, backed with the non-album “Good Morning Life.”

Banzai self-produced Hora Nata in the presence of veteran engineer Jos Clauwers, a soundman on Belgian classics by Mad Curry, Shampoo, Jenghiz Khan, and Magenta.

Hora Nata appeared in a gatefold sleeve with etched framework around a posed downshot of Banzai in baroque glam-rock attire. The inner-gate has a vertical illustration of fantasy characters (horses, demons, banshees) surrounded by handwritten words against a blue backdrop.

Banzai followed Hora Nata with two non-album singles: “Be Careful Now” (b/w “We’re So Sorry”) and “Talking About My Love” (b/w “On the Rocks”).

Post-Banzai

Verhees played on titles by numerous Flemich acts, including Erik Van Neygen, Pierre Rapsat, and Jo Lemaire. Keyboardist Peter Torfs partook in the 1981 one-off Rubeck with his brother, producer Rudi Torfs.

Discography: