KHAYYAM
Jazz Rock
Obviously the names comes from the poet Omar Khayyam.
Line up - Chris Jones - Lead Guitar, Steve Tayton - Sax / Clarinet / Flute. Harry Heppinstall - drums and percussion / later Jim Pryal. Dave Wickes - Bass guitar
Rodney Joyce - Congas
Later members Jim Pryal drums - Rick Medlock drums - Terry Brown
Chris Jones had a blues outfit called The Chris Jones Aggression in the early 70's and had played with Just Jake.
Steve Tayton played at the Cov Arts Umbrella Jazz club in the late 60's and had been a member of Stavely Makepeace of which Lieutenant Pigeon was intended as a less serious offshoot. and Wave. Later with Quanna Parker and other outfits.
Harry Heppinstall had played in Wave and many other bands.
Dave Wickes had played in Just Jake
Rodney Joyce had managed 3AM c 1966/67
Both Hobo and the Coventry Evening Telegraph reported on this dynamic Jazz rock outfit who were resident at the Earlsdon Cottage and played London venues The Speakeasy and Ronnie Scotts, toured the continent and negotiated a record deal and appeared on Belgian and French network TV.
In Issue 2 of HOBO August 1973 we reported on the break up of Just Jake
"Chris Jones, lead guitarist and Dave Wickes, bassist, have joined the Jazz Rock group Khayyam(formerly Wave). The group have residencies at the Earlsdon Cottage on Thursdays and the Carousel in Hinckley on Monday nights. Other bookings include Ronnie Scotts, Pheasantry, Speakeasy and possibly the Rainbow."
In Febuary 1974 HOBO reported
"KHAYYAM formed from the Jazz/ Rock band Wave, are now set to make an album, privately, which will be produced by Roger Eames, who produces the jazz club on zee radio. Members Khayyam are, for persons interested - Steve Tayton - Saxaphones, clarinet, flute; Harry Heppinstall - drums and percussion; Rodney Joyce on congas and 'paint cans! ; Chris Jones on lead guitar and vocals. Dave Wickes on bass and keyboards."
HOBO spring 1974
"KHAYYAM seem set to knock the rocks off the music scene.. A group of very accomplished musicians making some incredible music in the Jazz rock field. They are currently negotiating a recording deal and a fortnight's residency in both Brussels and Amsterdam. After blowing the minds of the clientele who frequent the Speakeasy and Ronnie Scotts in London, they are set for regular spots at these venues. Said Sound Mixer John Bargeant (BO) (former HOBO co- editor) " Most places we've played have agreed to rebook us, it's incredible". Catching them in the act at Coventry's new rock venue - THE STEAM PACKET at the Tree Tops on sundays, I spoke to some of the audience to see what they thought. Some felt their music was 'too complicated' for them while the
majority were amazed at the sounds theat were emanating from the stage. All agreed though that the musicianship was a of a very high standard. The audience at the Tree Tops was not the audience Khayyam normally play to it has to be said. Hobo wishes Khayyam success in the future."
HOBO summer 1974
"KHAYYAM - STIRRING THE DUST
On the outskirts of Coventry, fair city, looms a big world which Khayyam have been pioneering, leaving their mark firmly embedded in the eardromes of their audiences in colleges and universities around the country, not to mention the Speakeasy and other haunts in the City of Royal! Word reaches me that they are one of the most talked about up and coming bands. The band are full of enthusiasm for the continental scene too, where they played LE PUSSYCAT ROCK in Brussels; The TIME MACHINE in Lieges; The RITZ in Antwerp. Their enthusiasm and that of their promoters is so great that already they have another tour arranged for Belgium and Holland. And a certain caged bird whispered to me on the quiet that a tour of the continent could occur in the near future, depending on developments. Those familiar with Khayyam's music from the Golden Cross or the Earsldon Cottage in Coventry maybe interested to know that their music is retaining that essential Khayyam sound, although it has become more funkier and rocky, loosing some of it's jazziness. This is owing to the recent departure of Sax player Steve Tayton. The stage performance has become funkier too."
In the foreground of this picture of Khayyam from the Earlsdon Cottage (Cov Evening Telgraph pic) you can see the editors of HOBO. On the left (back of the head view) is Trev Teasdel and on the right is John Bargent (BO). Bo was both co-editor of Hobo and promotor / manager of Trev Teasdel & Don't Talk Wet at the time but soon afterwards left Coventry to become road manager for Khayyam on their European tour. Later Bo returned to HOBO helping out at the Hobo Workshop in 1975
Memories from Jim Pryal
" In 1975, I joined a band called Khayyam, who were a funk/jazz group with Chris Jones on guitar (Chris did quite a lot of work with Smackee later) and Rodney Joyce on congas and a bass player named Dave Wickes. They originally had a sax player named Steve Tatum and a jazzy drummer who left so the sound changed quite a bit with my style of drumming. This was another great band for me and was very well received by audiences. We played some great gigs of the day including The Speakeasy club, London (an exclusive club for pop stars et al - a bottle of whisky was 15 quid even then) The Greyhound Croydon, upstairs at Ronnie Scotts, London. Really quite exciting times. I got to meet 'Speedy' - Georgie Fame's bongo player and shared a couple of spliffs with him in his flat in London thanks to Rodney, the chief mover and groover. We got a few standing ovations but broken vans, on the dole - the usual musos tale of woe!! and it stopped. I'd quit my job and with a mortgage.........."
Rodney Joyce had managed 3AM c 1966/67
Both Hobo and the Coventry Evening Telegraph reported on this dynamic Jazz rock outfit who were resident at the Earlsdon Cottage and played London venues The Speakeasy and Ronnie Scotts, toured the continent and negotiated a record deal and appeared on Belgian and French network TV.
In Issue 2 of HOBO August 1973 we reported on the break up of Just Jake
"Chris Jones, lead guitarist and Dave Wickes, bassist, have joined the Jazz Rock group Khayyam(formerly Wave). The group have residencies at the Earlsdon Cottage on Thursdays and the Carousel in Hinckley on Monday nights. Other bookings include Ronnie Scotts, Pheasantry, Speakeasy and possibly the Rainbow."
In Febuary 1974 HOBO reported
"KHAYYAM formed from the Jazz/ Rock band Wave, are now set to make an album, privately, which will be produced by Roger Eames, who produces the jazz club on zee radio. Members Khayyam are, for persons interested - Steve Tayton - Saxaphones, clarinet, flute; Harry Heppinstall - drums and percussion; Rodney Joyce on congas and 'paint cans! ; Chris Jones on lead guitar and vocals. Dave Wickes on bass and keyboards."
HOBO spring 1974
"KHAYYAM seem set to knock the rocks off the music scene.. A group of very accomplished musicians making some incredible music in the Jazz rock field. They are currently negotiating a recording deal and a fortnight's residency in both Brussels and Amsterdam. After blowing the minds of the clientele who frequent the Speakeasy and Ronnie Scotts in London, they are set for regular spots at these venues. Said Sound Mixer John Bargeant (BO) (former HOBO co- editor) " Most places we've played have agreed to rebook us, it's incredible". Catching them in the act at Coventry's new rock venue - THE STEAM PACKET at the Tree Tops on sundays, I spoke to some of the audience to see what they thought. Some felt their music was 'too complicated' for them while the
majority were amazed at the sounds theat were emanating from the stage. All agreed though that the musicianship was a of a very high standard. The audience at the Tree Tops was not the audience Khayyam normally play to it has to be said. Hobo wishes Khayyam success in the future."
HOBO summer 1974
"KHAYYAM - STIRRING THE DUST
On the outskirts of Coventry, fair city, looms a big world which Khayyam have been pioneering, leaving their mark firmly embedded in the eardromes of their audiences in colleges and universities around the country, not to mention the Speakeasy and other haunts in the City of Royal! Word reaches me that they are one of the most talked about up and coming bands. The band are full of enthusiasm for the continental scene too, where they played LE PUSSYCAT ROCK in Brussels; The TIME MACHINE in Lieges; The RITZ in Antwerp. Their enthusiasm and that of their promoters is so great that already they have another tour arranged for Belgium and Holland. And a certain caged bird whispered to me on the quiet that a tour of the continent could occur in the near future, depending on developments. Those familiar with Khayyam's music from the Golden Cross or the Earsldon Cottage in Coventry maybe interested to know that their music is retaining that essential Khayyam sound, although it has become more funkier and rocky, loosing some of it's jazziness. This is owing to the recent departure of Sax player Steve Tayton. The stage performance has become funkier too."
In the foreground of this picture of Khayyam from the Earlsdon Cottage (Cov Evening Telgraph pic) you can see the editors of HOBO. On the left (back of the head view) is Trev Teasdel and on the right is John Bargent (BO). Bo was both co-editor of Hobo and promotor / manager of Trev Teasdel & Don't Talk Wet at the time but soon afterwards left Coventry to become road manager for Khayyam on their European tour. Later Bo returned to HOBO helping out at the Hobo Workshop in 1975
" In 1975, I joined a band called Khayyam, who were a funk/jazz group with Chris Jones on guitar (Chris did quite a lot of work with Smackee later) and Rodney Joyce on congas and a bass player named Dave Wickes. They originally had a sax player named Steve Tatum and a jazzy drummer who left so the sound changed quite a bit with my style of drumming. This was another great band for me and was very well received by audiences. We played some great gigs of the day including The Speakeasy club, London (an exclusive club for pop stars et al - a bottle of whisky was 15 quid even then) The Greyhound Croydon, upstairs at Ronnie Scotts, London. Really quite exciting times. I got to meet 'Speedy' - Georgie Fame's bongo player and shared a couple of spliffs with him in his flat in London thanks to Rodney, the chief mover and groover. We got a few standing ovations but broken vans, on the dole - the usual musos tale of woe!! and it stopped. I'd quit my job and with a mortgage.........."
Steve Tayton
John Bargent (Bo) Road manager and former Hobo Editor
Chris Jones
KHAYYAM 1975 With Rick Medlock - Drums, Terry Brown - Chris Jones guitar.
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