Dr. Tree -

Dr. Tree was a New Zealander jazz-rock band that released a 1976 self-titled album on EMI. Drummer Frank Gibson and bassist Bob Jackson were already established sessionists. Both appeared on the 1974 album The Song of Crazy Horse by American singer/songwriter J. D. Blackfoot.

Members: Frank Gibson (drums), Murray McNabb (keyboards), Martin Winch (guitar), Kim Patterson (trumpet), Johnny Banks (percussion), Bob Jackson (bass)

Background

Dr Tree originated in Auckland in 1971 when drummer Frank Gibson Jr. and keyboardist Murray McNabb developed an electric jazz group from a partnership formed at Mt Albert Grammar School. McNabb introduced Gibson to the 1971 Mahavishnu Orchestra album The Inner Mounting Flame, which sparked their interest in the new style.

Gibson was born on Feb. 19, 1946, in Auckland to drummer and concert organizer Frank Gibson Sr. He debuted in a drum duet with his father at Auckland Town Hall at age eight and later played with the Juvenolians and the Tremelloes. Gibson met McNabb at Mt Albert Grammar in 1963, where the pair played school concerts and later secured a six-night residency at the Troika restaurant. Gibson notched his first-recorded credit on the 1965 Gray Bartlett single “Theme From The Munsters” (b/w “Chips”), a New Zealand instrumental version of the Jack Marshall theme for the American television series The Munsters. He moved to Sydney in 1967 and played El Rocco with bassist Andy Brown as members of the Bernie McGann trio.

McNabb grew up in Auckland and learned piano largely through self-directed study. He played pop covers with Rainbow and worked a trainee accountancy job at George Walker auction house until the Troika residency established regular professional work with Gibson. The pair continued through Auckland clubs and restaurants across the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Trumpeter Kim Paterson grew up in Auckland and attended Seddon Technical College, where he played in informal groups. He took trumpet lessons from Lou Campbell and entered the Auckland jazz circuit with the Claudettes of pianist Claude Papesch. Paterson later played with Mike Nock and Dave MacRae, then moved to Sydney in the mid-1960s. Overseas work took him to Manila and Hong Kong, followed by a return to Sydney with the Last Straw. Paterson returned to New Zealand in 1974 and joined the developing Dr Tree lineup.

Guitarist Martin Winch was born in 1949 in Nottingham, England, and moved with his family to Auckland in 1963. He joined the Northcote High School group the Ivys in 1965, followed by Boneyard Convention and Sylvester Winch Style. Winch moved to Sydney with the latter group under the name Gunther Caine, then toured Singapore and Japan with a restaurant band. He returned to Auckland and secured session work through producer Mike Harvey. Winch played electric guitar on the 1975 John Hanlon album Higher Trails.

Bassist Bob Jackson worked Auckland recording sessions as a multi-instrumentalist. He played electric guitar on the 1973 J.D. Blackfoot album The Song of Crazy Horse. Alongside Winch, Jackson played mandolin, acoustic bass, and acoustic guitar on Higher Trails. Percussionist John Banks completed the documented six-piece lineup with Gibson, McNabb, Paterson, Winch, and Jackson.

Dr Tree made their 1974 live debut at Carnaby’s with a mix of McNabb originals and pieces by Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, and Miles Davis. The band also played the 1974 Tauranga National Jazz Festival, where they performed “Boogie Woogie Waltz,” included on a two-record document of the event along with numbers by Glass Banana and Quincy Conserve.

Dr Tree secured a Monday residency at the Globe Hotel in Auckland and drew regular crowds under manager Charley Gray. The musicians built a bandstand in the upstairs room and promoted the shows around Auckland. EMI producer Alan Galbraith signed Dr Tree from the Globe residency and brought arranger Julian Lee into the recording project. The group entered EMI Studios in Wellington with Galbraith and Lee producing the sessions for the self-titled debut.

The Album

Dr. Tree released their singular album in 1976 on EMI (New Zealand) Limited.

The album contains a brief intro number and four originals; one apiece by keyboardist Murray McNabb (the noodly 7/8 strut “Affirmation”), trumpeter Kim Patterson (the rattling brass-funk “Eugenio D”), guitarist Martin Winch (the arpeggiated 6/8 “Transition”), and Frank Gibson (the fast/slow asymmetry of “One for Dianne”).

They also cover the Stanley Clarke composition “Vulcan Worlds.” Gibson’s lightning crisp snare rolls dominate throughout. Musically, Dr. Tree echoes the mid-Seventies output of Return to Forever.

A1. “The Twilight Zone” (1:38)
A2. “Vulcan Worlds” (6:49)
A3. “Transition” (8:07)

B1. “Eugino D” (6:10)
B2. “Affirmation” (7:33)
B3. “One for DIanne” (6:19)

Dr. Tree was produced by Alan Galbraith and veteran jazz conductor Julian Lee. Colin Hemmingsen (Blerta) guests on soprano sax.

Dr. Tree was twice reissued on CD during the 2000s. Most of the members remained active on the antipodean jazz scene. McNabb and Patterson reteamed in 2009 for a pair of discs of Auckland-based composer Gianmarco Liguori.

Discography: