Gryphon

Multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey and his friend, after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music ( en: Royal Academy of Music ) Brian Gulland , who played woodwinds, created a group like an acoustic ensemble, in the music of which traditional English folk music, medieval and Renaissance motifs were mixed. Shortly afterwards, guitarist Graeme Taylor and drummer David Oberlé joined the duo .

After the release of the self-titled debut album, Gryphon include electric guitars , keyboards and some other wind instruments, such as bassoon and krumhorn , which were not previously used in rock music.

Gryphon's next album was Midnight Mushrumps ( 1974 ). On it, the group plays already as a quintet - bassist Philip Nestor joins the group.

After the release of their third album, Red Queen to Gryphon Three Gryphon conducted a tour of the United States , as the team that accompanied the band Yes . Communication with this group and the experience gained during the tour qualitatively influenced the music of Gryphon. Many musical tricks and features of the instrumentation and arrangements used were borrowed from Yes . Red Queen to Gryphon Three consists of four lengthy, much more rock-oriented tracks written by members of the group.

Fans and critics mostly mark Midnight Mushrumps and instrumental Red Queen to Gryphon Three as the band’s best work.

• Brian Gulland - bassoon , krumhorn , recorder , keyboards , vocals
• Richard Harvey - recorder, krumhorn, mandolin , keyboards, vocals
• David Oberlé - drums and percussion, main vocals
• Graeme Taylor - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals (in Raindance )
• Philip Nestor - bass, vocals ( Midnight Mushrumps and Red Queen to Gryphon Three )
• Malcolm Bennett - bass, flute ( Raindance )
• Jonathan Davie - Bass Guitar ( Treason )
• Bob Foster - Guitar ( Treason )

The following musicians contributed to the Gryphon albums, but were not members of the group.

• Ernest Hart - Organ ( Midnight Mushrumps and Red Queen to Gryphon Three )
• Peter Redding - Bass ( Red Queen to Gryphon Three )

• Gryphon ( 1973 )
• Midnight Mushrumps ( 1974 )
• Red Queen to Gryphon Three ( 1974 )
• Raindance ( 1975 )
• Treason ( 1977 )
• ReInvention ( 2018 )

All albums are released by Transatlantic Records, except Treason , published by EMI Records, and ReInvention , published by Talking Elephant.

• The Collection ( 1991 )
• The Collection II ( 1995 )
• About as Curious as It Can Be ( 2002 ) - 1974 & 1975 Performances for BBC Radio
• Glastonbury Carol ( 2003 ) - 1972 & 1974 Performances for BBC Radio
• Crossing the Styles: The Transatlantic Anthology ( 2004 )

• Gryphon official website