Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh was an English jazz-rock band led by keyboardist and composer Alan Gowan. In 1975, they released the album Gilgamesh, a mix of suites, songs, and interludes produced by Dave Stewart (Egg, Hatfield & the North). Gowan and Stewart teamed in the initial lineup of National Health. Despite his early departure, he wrote and performed on two pieces (“Brujo,” “Elephants”) on their debut album National Health. In 1978, Gowan reformed Gilgamesh for a second album, Another Fine Tune You’ve Got Me Into, with ex-Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper.

In 1981, Gowan passed away from leukemia. National Health regrouped to record D.S. Al Coda, an album of his compositions.

Members: Alan Gowen (keyboards), Mike Travis (drums), Alan Wakeman (saxophone), Phil Lee (guitar), Jeff Clyne (bass), Neil Murray (bass), Mont Campbell (bass), Hugh Hopper (bass), Trevor Tomkins (drums)

Gowan assembled Gilgamesh after a stint in Sunship, an unrecorded improvisational group with percussionist Jamie Muir and ex-‘Igginbottom guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Before long, Robert Fripp drafted Muir into a new lineup of King Crimson and Holdsworth joined Tempest, a hard-rock spinoff of Colosseum.

Discography:

• Gilgamesh (1975)
  
• Another Fine Tune You’ve Got Me Into (1978)
  
• Arriving Twice (archival, 2000)

Sources:

• Discogs: Gilgamesh