OTTOMAN

OTTOMAN

circa 1974 Source Hobo

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Doobie Bros/Santana inspired

Line up: John Alderson (guitar), Al Hatton (guitar), Ron Ablewhite (acoustic guitar), Martin Barter (keyboards), Roy Brewster (percussion), Richie Medlock (drums) and unknown (bass) .

Alderson was ex-Wandering John .

Hatton was ex-Indian Summer. They appeared on 'Midlands Today'

From Hobo Coventry Music and Arts Magazine


OTTOMAN (Summer 1974)

With the return of Johnny (Slide) Alderson from a period of living in Wales, he first of all joined Trilogy (an acoustic three piece with Ex Indian Summer guitarist - Al Hatton, Ron Ablewhite and percussionist Roy Brewster. They also added Martin Barter on keyboards and vocals. Soon this new expansion and electrification of the band of the band led to a change of name from Trilogy ( which no longer described the new 5 piece, to Ottoman. Both Trilogy and Ottoman were reported on in Hobo.



FROM HOBO MAGAZINE -SUMMER 1974

HARK THE OTTOMAN COMETH

"It could be said that they produce music in a similar vain to the Doobie Bros, with a touch of Santana in the percussion, but such a classifications are intended as only a rough guideline to loosely indicate their style. They of course write and play music like Ottoman, who else? Having only been formed a few months, this band has the distinction of having appeared on BBC's MIDLAND'S TODAY programme. The lead and slide guitar is performed by Ex Wandering John guitarist - John Alderson, whilst the keyboards ring to the tune on Martin Barter. Al Hatton lends his weight to the battle charge on electric rhythm, ably supported by Ron Abelwhite on acoustic guitar, defended by Roy Brewster on percussion and Richie Medlock on drums and a bass player, of whose name I am not yet clear on! All members contribute to the sound. (Ed's note - Ottoman was an electrification and expansion of the group acoustic group Trilogy)."

I think Ron Abelwhite had been in the acoustic group Torqwood (whom I'd seen play at the Butts Tech Student Union and Al Hatton was in the original Indian Summer with Roy Butterfield before the line up change that were involved with the Indian Summer RCA Neon album. I'd met Al Hatton a year or two before at the Shilton cottage when he was practicing with Al Docker's band Runestaff in our dining room. That was the first time I think he swopped his electric for an acoustic guitar. I can't recall if I actually saw Ottoman live but I saw Trilogy quite a few times, at the White Bear in Willenhall Wood, with solo blues player Mick Stuart and also at the Antelope Folk Club, near the Butts. At this gig percussionist Roy Brewster backed my on one of my first floor spots, on bongos (unrehearsed!) and gave me an interesting talk of Latin rhythms. He was a very knowledgeable guy. Playing solo then, my songs were apt to change rhythm without warning making it hard for him to follow - he suggested I work with a percussionist to develop the rhythmic side of the songs. I think those particular songs had a Tyrannosaurus Rex kind of feel and so it kind of made sense. I advertised in Hobo for a percussionist and other musicians but the work of the Hobo Workshop and college took my attention for a while.