Alpha Omega -

Alpha Omega was an Australian jazz-rock band behind a 1976 self-titled album on Clear Light of Jupiter.

Members: John Bellamy (lead guitar), Dave Brown (saxophone), Howard Croft (electric piano), Tony Hargreaves (bass), Ray Dick (percussion)

Background

Alpha Omega emerged in Australia during the mid-1970s around guitarist-composer John Bellamy, with saxophonist Dave Brown, bassist Tony Hargreaves, and percussionist Ray Dick.

Bellamy developed a six-piece instrumental repertoire that combined jazz-rock with electronic textures. The album sessions included synthesist Steve Maxwell von Braund, who grew up in Kew, Melbourne, and played saxophone before pursuing electronic music. In 1970, Braund visited London, where he encountered British experimental rock and collected German electronic recordings.

Back in Melbourne, Braund linked with record importers Jeremy Fiebiger and Daniel Janecka, who established Clear Light of Jupiter after operating Pipe Records. The pair produced the 1975 electronic solo album Monster Planet by Braund at Armstrong Studios. Their label also issued The Armada by Rainbow Theatre and licensed albums by German groups Agitation Free and Thirsty Moon.

Bellamy composed the six pieces for Alpha Omega, the 1976 Clear Light of Jupiter release that preceded the label debut by Cybotron, the electronic duo of Braund and Geoff Green.

Discography:

Alpha Omega (1976)

References and notes

JazzRockSoul — Alpha Omega. Identifies the Australian group, personnel, label, and debut year. (Artist page)
ProgNotFrog — April 9, 2012. Documents the original six-track LP, Bellamy composition credits, and the five musicians credited to the album, including synthesist Steve Maxwell von Braund. (Album documentation)
JazzRockSoul — Steve Maxwell Von Braund. Details the Melbourne background, London visit, Pipe Records connection, 1975 solo album, and formation of Cybotron. (Artist history)
CVINYL — Clear Light of Jupiter. Establishes Jeremy Fiebiger and Daniel Janecka as founders, their record-importing business, and the label roster. (Label history)
Australian Independent Record Labels, 1955–1990. Catalog listing confirms the 1976 release, CLOJ 781, between *Blitz* by Thirsty Moon and the Cybotron debut. (Label discography)
EAD Record — original 1976 pressing. Photographs of the original Clear Light of Jupiter sleeve and label, with the year, catalog number, and track sequence. (Pressing documentation)