Armada - Beyond The Morning (Unreleased Recordings 1972-1974) (2011)

Armada biography
ARMADA was a project started by the legendary, jazz multi-instrumentalist Sammy RIMINGTON and singer, flautist Terry COOKE from Great Britain as a way to explore the fusion of rock and jazz. The band was founded in 1970 and active through 1974. Though the band never released any albums or never gained the notoriety that they deserved, they did record several studio and live tracks, and some of these were collected and released on an album called "Beyond the Morning: Unreleased Recordings 1972-74, This collection was released in 2011 mostly due to the popularity of RIMINGTON.

The band was comprised of Sammy RIMINGTON (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute), Graham "Kirby" GREGORY (guitar), Terry COOKE (vocals, flute, bongos), Geoff SKATES (lead guitar, rhythm guitar), Alan WICKETT (drums, xylophone), Brian STANLEY (bass), Colin ELLAR (bass), and John DONALDSON (keyboards). The band explores fusion, but also adds in several other styles that include folk and progressive elements that give it a definite Eclectic Prog sound.

The band later changed their name twice to RIMINGTON, and then RATS, but their music became more commercial, then the group disbanded going their separate ways: RIMINGTON of course became quite famous in the jazz genre, KENTON joined ROXY MUSIC for a short period and GREGORY later joined CURVED AIR.

The band has been compared to VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, early KING CRIMSON, CARAVAN, WISHBONE ASH and others.progarchives.com
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72 mins worth of prime prog jazz rock all previously unreleased. Armada were led by legendary jazz multi instrumentalist Sammy Rimington. Today known as one of the great New Orleans jazz style Clarinettists.

Original material written by Sammy and wife Nina was recorded at RG Jones studio through 1972, 1973 and 1974. However, despite a follow up deal with the MAM label only two singles were released, and both of those newly recorded pop songs which bore little relation to the parent group. Thus all original session tapes have remained on the shelf until now.

The concept was progressive music under the influence of King Crimson, early Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Zappa and jazz. They mixed jazz with classical music stylings such as those of Villa Lobos. Armada played regularly at the Marquee and Lyceum in London, toured with Wishbone Ash and Rare Bird, and were written about in Melody Maker.