Robert Wood -

Robert Wood is an English vibraphonist and singer who also worked as a guitarist and producer. He recorded in France during the 1970s with the early Lard Free lineup and under his own name. Edici issued Tarot and Sonabular before Wood moved to Polydor for Vibrarock and Tombac Vibe.

Background

Robert Wood was born in 1949 in Bournemouth, England. He played glockenspiel before hearing the 1965 Archie Shepp album On This Night, which featured vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. Wood subsequently adopted the acoustic vibraphone and developed a technique that used mallets, sticks, finger cymbals, pieces of wood, palms, fingertips, and fingernails to produce different harmonics and tonal colors.

Wood established his career in France through encounters with Don Cherry, Bobby Few, drummer Muhammad Ali, François Tusques, and Anthony Braxton. He also played in the Celestrial Communication Orchestra under Alan Silva.

During 1971–72, Wood briefly joined Lard Free under drummer Gilbert Artman and participated in sessions later compiled on the 1997 archival release Unnamed. On June 24, 1971, he recorded his first album in Paris with reedist Steve Potts, bassist Kent Carter, and drummer Ron Pittner.

Tarot

Robert Wood released his debut album, Tarot, in 1972 on Edici.

The album pairs Wood with Potts, Carter, and Pittner across three compositions by Wood.

A1. “The Sun, Rain and Good Weather” (9:34)
A2. “The Hanged Man, to Loose the Day” (8:25)
B1. “The High Priestess, Vibrana” (25:22)

Wood recorded Tarot in Paris on June 24, 1971, with Claude Lamarque directing the production. Lamarque also produced the 1971 Nathan Davis Quartet album Jazz Concert in a Benedictine Monastery.

Edici issued the record in a black sleeve with a green rendering of the Magician card beneath white title lettering and repeated infinity symbols.

Spalax issued a 1996 CD edition of Tarot.

Sonabular

Robert Wood released his second album, Sonabular, in 1973 on Edici.

The album presents Wood in a duo with drummer Gilbert Artman, who also led the 1973 first official Lard Free album. Wood composed all five pieces.

“Words for a Tunisian Song” fans layered vibraphone lines across stereo space and joins hushed taps to dry metallic contacts. “Woodlands” careens through volatile mallet runs as distant replies match each turn.

A1. “Inspiration” (3:25)
A2. “Edwige” (5:18)
A3. “Words for a Tunisian Song” (9:51)

B1. “Woodlands” (7:56)
B2. “Shades of Mu” (11:40)

Paris photographer Bruno Jarret supplied the black-and-white cover image of industrial pipes and valves inside a red border. Dominique Grimaud reused the image on the 1977 first volume of Un Certain Rock Français.

Spalax issued a 1993 CD edition of Sonabular.

Woodlands and Gong

Wood led Woodlands during 1974 and recorded a September concert at Lons-le-Saunier. Monster Melodies issued the performance in 2015 as Live at Lons-le-Saunier 1974.

Wood also supported Gong on French dates behind You. He later enlisted bassist Mike Howlett and drummer Pierre Moerlen for Vibrarock. Flutist Didier Malherbe and sound engineer Francis Linon also entered the project.

Vibrarock

Robert Wood released his third album, Vibrarock, in 1976 on Polydor.

The album documents Wood on electric vibraphone and vocals across concert and studio performances. Bassist Olivier Zdrzalik and drummer Marcel Bel support the five La Celle-Saint-Cloud tracks. Bassist Beliaev and drummer Bruno Caroube play on “Submariner.” Howlett and Moerlen form the rhythm section on “Wagram Jam.”

Bassist Patrick Fontaine joins drummer Olivier Didier on “Star.” Didier also appears on the final two tracks. Malherbe adds flute to “Tombac / Edwige Medley,” while Linon contributes electronic effects under the Venux Deluxe name. Wood wrote the words and music for all ten tracks.

A1. “Rue St-Martin” (1:10)
A2. “Hammer” (6:05)
A3. “Port Meadow” (4:05)
A4. “Woodlands Walk” (2:30)
A5. “This Is the Meaning Of” (6:50)

B1. “Submariner” (2:45)
B2. “Wagram Jam” (4:15)
B3. “Star” (3:45)
B4. “Hammer ’74” (6:05)
B5. “Tombac / Edwige Medley” (3:30)

Wood assembled Vibrarock from recordings made between May 1974 and December 1975 in Paris and Toulouse. The five first-side tracks come from the June 1975 festival at La Celle-Saint-Cloud. Studio work occurred at Aquarium Studio in Paris and Studio Condorcet in Toulouse. Concert recordings from Salle Wagram and Hall Comminges complete the second side.

Wood produced the album. Francis Linon handled the sound and electronic effects under the Venux Deluxe name. Linon served as stage sound engineer for Gong during the You tour and later worked extensively with Magma.

Bruno Jarret and Michel Gayout photographed the monochrome front sleeve, which shows Wood behind the vibraphone under a broad stage beam and white title lettering. French journalist–photographer Alain Dister supplied the back-cover image.

Tombac Vibe

Robert Wood released his fourth album, Tombac Vibe, in 1977 on Polydor.

The album presents Wood with bassist Perry Yeldham and drummer Patrice Cramer throughout the nine tracks. Wood revisits “Vibrana” from Tarot and “Shades of Mu” from Sonabular. He wrote the words and music for the full set.

“Shades of Mu” coils from a minor-third rise into tritone drop before C–A–F-sharp descent.

A1. “Music’s for Me (Townhall)” (1:22)
A2. “Food for Love” (2:55)
A3. “Funny Fair” (4:15)
A4. “Tombac” (7:00)

B1. “Help Me to Love You” (4:10)
B2. “Madman’s Lament” (3:20)
B3. “Vibrana” (1:20)
B4. “Shades of Mu” (6:25)
B5. “Saltimbanque” (2:45)

Wood produced Tombac Vibe during sessions from July through August 1976 at Acorn Studios in Stonesfield, England. House engineer Colin Bateman recorded and mixed the trio. Bateman also engineered the 1976 self-titled album by Belgian group Dragon.

Photographer Patrick Bensard photographed Wood between two mallet instruments against a black field, with orange and yellow block lettering above the portrait.

Later Releases

Tombac Vibe closed the documented sequence of contemporary albums by Wood. Leo Records issued the 1971 Celestrial Communication Orchestra concert My Country in 1989, with Wood on vibraphone. Spalax returned Sonabular and Tarot to circulation on CD during 1993–96.

The 1997 Lard Free archive Unnamed includes Wood on five selections recorded during 1971–72. Monster Melodies issued Live at Lons-le-Saunier 1974 by Robert Wood & Woodlands in 2015. The limited vinyl edition presents a September 1974 concert with bassist Patrick Fontaine and drummer Olivier Didier, supplemented by reproduced posters, a concert program, a performance chronology, and an interview with Wood.

Discography: