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Mel Collins

Mel Collins is a British saxophonist, flutist, and session musician, who was born on September 5, 1947, in Isle of Man, UK. He is best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Camel, as well as his collaborations with other prominent musicians.

Collins began his music career in the late 1960s, playing saxophone and flute in various bands and sessions. In 1970, he joined King Crimson as a session musician, playing on their landmark album "Lizard." He subsequently became a full-time member of the band for their next two albums, "Islands" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic."

After leaving King Crimson in 1972, Collins played with a number of other bands, including Alexis Korner's Snape, The Rolling Stones, and Roger Waters. He also recorded as a session musician for a variety of artists, including Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, and Tears for Fears.

In 1977, Collins joined the progressive rock band Camel, and played on their album "Breathless." He subsequently appeared on several other Camel albums, including "I Can See Your House from Here," "The Single Factor," and "Nude."

Collins continued to work as a session musician throughout the 1980s and 1990s, playing on albums by a wide range of artists, including Joan Armatrading, Clannad, and The Alan Parsons Project. He also played with the jazz fusion band Kokomo and appeared on their albums "Rise and Shine" and "A Little Bit Further Away."

In the 2000s, Collins continued to collaborate with a range of musicians and bands, including Steve Hackett, The Tangent, and Jakko Jakszyk. He also reunited with King Crimson for a series of tours, including their 2014 "The Elements of King Crimson" tour.

Overall, Mel Collins has had a long and successful career as a versatile and in-demand saxophonist and session musician, playing on numerous iconic albums and working with many of the biggest names in rock and pop music.


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26
Album Review

King Crimson: Music is Our Friend: Live In Washington and Albany, 2021

Read "Music is Our Friend: Live In Washington and Albany, 2021" reviewed by John Kelman


You probably know the old adage about assumptions. After seeing the current (slightly fluid) King Crimson lineup twice every time the perennially groundbreaking group made it to North American shores since 2014, with no Canadian dates available in 2021 and the COVID Delta variant running rampant across the United States, the decision was made to forego traveling south to the USA to catch the band. After all, with the band touring, for the first time, on double bills with the ...

25
Album Review

Jakko M. Jakszyk: Secrets & Lies

Read "Secrets & Lies" reviewed by John Kelman


Life often unfolds in unexpected ways. For some, like Jakko M. Jakszyk, it has taken some truly surprising twists and turns. That the 62 year-old multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter has attained considerably greater visibility in the last ten years than in the previous 35 has, to say the least, righted a significant wrong. Which makes the release of Secrets & Lies, Jakszk's first solo album since the The Bruised Romantic Glee Club (Iceni, 2006) and its 2009, self-released companion piece, ...

453
Album Review

Crimson Jazz Trio: King Crimson Songbook Volume 2

Read "King Crimson Songbook Volume 2" reviewed by John Kelman


It's nothing new to take contemporary popular music and interpret it in a jazz context, but few groups are formed around the singular premise of exploring just one group. The Crimson Jazz Trio (CJ3)--pianist Jody Nardone, bassist Tim Landers and drummer Ian Wallace (the trio's formative drive and direct link to King Crimson, playing on the often undervalued Islands (Island, 1971))--hit relative pay dirt with The King Crimson Songbook Volume One (DGM Live, 2005). Wallace's unexpected passing in February, 2007 ...

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Extended Analysis

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson: Volume One 1969-1974

Read "The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson: Volume One 1969-1974" reviewed by John Kelman


Of all the groups to emerge from the late '60s-early '70s heyday of British Progressive Rock (capitals fully intended), no group has reinvented itself more frequently and, perhaps, more rapidly than King Crimson. As time has gone on the group's ostensible leader Robert Fripp has refashioned the group through periods of high melodrama to nuevo metal and just about everything in between. Until recently, new fans who wanted an overview of the band had to satisfy themselves with the 4-CD ...

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274

Recording

Jakko Jakszyk, Robert Fripp and Mel Collins to release new King Crimson ProjeKct

Jakko Jakszyk, Robert Fripp and Mel Collins to release new King Crimson ProjeKct

Source: Lori Hehr Public Relations

DGM/Inner Knot Records announce the upcoming release of A Scarcity of Miracles, a new release in the King Crimson ProjeKct series. The ProjeKct features Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk and Mel Collins with a rhythm section of Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison. A Scarcity of Miracles will be released on May 30, 2011. Information and merchandise for the release can be found at dgmlive.com. When Fripp (King Crimson founder and guitarist) and Jakszyk (Level 42) got together in February 2009 neither ...

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