Paz -

Paz was an English ethno-jazz/funk ensemble, formed in 1972 by vibraphonist Dick Crouch. They debuted with the 1978 Spotlite release Kandeen Love Song, followed by the Magnus live set Paz at Chester and the 1981 studio title Paz are Back. Guitarist Jim Mullen appeared on their 1983 Paladin release Look Inside, followed by the 1986 Coda disc Always There and the 1989 Swallow Music title The Message.

Members: Dick Crouch (vibraphone, percussion), Dave Sheen (drums), Simon Morton (congas, percussion), Ray Warleigh (saxophone, flute), Chris Fletcher (congas, percussion), Ron Mathewson (bass), Ed Speight (guitar), Frank Gibson (drums), Martin Drew (timbales), Phil Todd (saxophone, flute), Phil Lee (guitar), Henry Thomas (bass), Mike Bradley (drums), Roberto Pla (timbales, percussion), Jim Mullen (guitar), Dave Early (drums), Joao Bosco de Oliveira (percussion), Marianne Davidson (vocals), Frank Holder (vocals, percussion), Martin Shaw (flugelhorn, trumpet), Matt Wates (saxophone), Adam Salkeld (guitar), Rob Statham (bass), Chris Dagley (drums), Peter Callard (guitar), Geoff Castle (piano, synthesizer)

Background

Paz formed in London in 1972 when vibraphonist Dick Crouch, a producer for the BBC Transcription Department, assembled a jazz-rock ensemble with an emphasis on original themes and Latin percussion. Crouch worked from the BBC offices at Kensington House, where he also managed concert bookings. An early incarnation, billed as the Dick Crouch Band, cut the 1972 acetate “L’Harmonique” with soprano saxophonist Lol Coxhill.

In 1973, Paz on-boarded keyboardist Geoff Castle and Australian saxophonist-flutist Ray Warleigh. Castle, a London native, held earlier stints in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the 1970 lineup of Graham Collier Music. He appeared on Collier’s 1971 Philips release Mosaics and joined Ian Carr in Nucleus for the 1974 Vertigo release Under the Sun. He continued with Nucleus through the 1975 albums Alleycat and Snake Hips Etcetera.

Warleigh arrived from Sydney in 1960 and joined Alexis Korner in Blues Incorporated. He played on the 1966 Decca release 100% Proof by Tubby Hayes and cut the 1969 Philips solo album Ray Warleigh’s First Album, produced by Scott Walker. Further credits included the 1971 RCA album Metropolis by Mike Westbrook and the 1975 Harvest release Bundles by Soft Machine.

Guitarist Phil Lee also came through Graham Collier Music, appearing on the 1970 Fontana album Songs for My Father. He joined Alan Gowen in Gilgamesh for their 1975 Caroline debut. Bassist Ron Mathewson hailed from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands and played in the Tubby Hayes Quartet on the 1968 Fontana album Mexican Green. He also backed Ian Carr on the 1971 Vertigo release Solar Plexus and joined Gordon Beck and Daniel Humair for a 1972 trio album on Dire Records.

Paz maintained a flexible lineup around Crouch, Castle, Warleigh, Lee, and Mathewson, with drummer Dave Sheen and percussionists Simon Morton and Chris Fletcher. From 1973, they held a Sunday residency at the Kensington pub in Holland Park and played other London venues, including Ronnie Scott’s. Crouch developed a repertoire of original instrumentals alongside Brazilian and other Latin American themes.

Paz made their first radio broadcasts for the BBC Jazz Club series. On May 18, 1976, Crouch led a BBC Transcription session with producer Lawrie Monk and engineer Robin Sedgeley. The group cut “Crotales,” “Solar Wind,” “The Bell Tree,” and “Yours Is the Light,” with New Zealand reedist Brian Smith among the players. BBC engineer Pete Freshney secured additional weekend studio time for Crouch, who produced three more tracks in June 1977 with Freshney as engineer. Spotlite Records proprietor Tony Williams combined the two sessions for the 1978 debut Kandeen Love Song.

Discography:

Kandeen Love Song (1978)
Paz at Chichester (1978)
Paz Are Back (1981)
Look Inside (1983)
Always There (1986)
The Message (1989)

Sources:

References and notes

Geoff Castle, What’s Rattlin’? — July 26, 1999. Firsthand account of the Kensington residency, BBC sessions, and debut album. (testimony)
All About Jazz — January 5, 2025. Documents formation, early acetate, original repertoire, and a 1978 Crouch interview. (history)
Jazz in Britain — January 31, 2025. Archival release assembled from original Crouch, Castle, and Mathewson tapes. (archive)
Jazz Journal — January 18, 2020. Establishes Castle training, early ensembles, and Nucleus affiliation. (biography)
AllMusic, Graham Collier — undated. Documents the 1970/71 albums with Lee and Castle. (discography)
Nucleus Official Bandcamp — September 23, 2022. Reproduces original personnel credits for the 1974 album Under the Sun. (credits)
AllMusic, Ray Warleigh — undated. Establishes early jazz affiliations, solo debut, and session credits. (biography)
AllMusic, Phil Lee — undated. Details work with Graham Collier and involvement in Paz. (biography)
Strawberry Bricks, Gilgamesh — undated. Verifies Lee guitar credits on the 1975 Caroline debut. (album credits)
Jazz Journal — December 8, 2020. Documents Mathewson early recordings with Tubby Hayes and Kenny Wheeler. (biography)
BBE Music — undated. Confirms band leadership, long-running residency, and principal musicians. (label history)
MusicBase, Kandeen Love Song — undated. Transcribes original sleeve credits, two recording dates, and Spotlite catalog information. (sleeve credits)
Canterbury Discography — undated. Identifies both sessions, personnel, studio locations, and engineers. (sessionography)