About

2LP pressed on black vinyl

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"The double album was recorded 25 shows into our 2025 tour at the Paradox Jazz Club in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Each night we were really just going where the songs took us, not knowing if Rat Salad would be 7 minutes long or 12, or how many improvisation exercises Milton could fit into Iron Man, so every show was unique. We feel that this particular night showed us at our best, so we're lucky we captured it on tape." — (via Artist, Bandcamp)

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The release of the trio’s first album “Jazz Sabbath” in 2020 came with the ludicrous, but amusing, spoof back story of how Black Sabbath stole the compositions of sixties jazz pianist Milton Keanes (a pseudonym for Wakeman), re-invented them as heavy metal and took them all the way to the bank. It may be all a bit Spinal Tap but it’s great fun and it’s a story that the band have stuck with through the release “Jazz Sabbath Vol. 2” (2022) and “The 1968 Tapes” (2024),  the latter supposedly recorded a full twelve months before the formation of Black Sabbath in 1969.

“Black Sabbath Live” is a double album that features arrangements of songs from Black Sabbath’s ‘classic’ 70s period when Ozzy Osbourne was still a member of the band. Indeed the recording is dedicated to Osbourne’s memory. Before his passing Ozzy expressed his approval of Wakeman’s project in his inimitable style -  “I’m fuckin’ lovin’ it!”.

The material is sourced from the Black Sabbath albums “Black Sabbath”, “Paranoid”, “Master of Reality” and “Sabotage”. It’s essentially the same set list that I saw in Brecon and it’s only right that this live recording should begin with the song “Black Sabbath”, ushered in by the familiar sound effects of falling rain, rumbling thunder and the tolling of a bell. There’s a bout of audience applause as the musicians themselves take to the stage. The structure of the song is eminently recognisable with doomy, minor key solo piano passages sketching the familiar introductory lines instrumentally – “what is this that stands before me?” indeed. But soon Wakeman and his colleagues are taking the music somewhere else altogether with an uptempo swinging jazz passage featuring walking bass lines and an ebullient piano solo.

The trio remain with the first Black Sabbath album for “The Wizard”, introduced by the rapid bustle of Newell’s brushed drums. More heavily disguised than the opener this piece adopts more of an orthodox jazz feel as it progresses via a series of dynamic and stylistic changes, the trio extending the piece to nearly twice the length of the Black Sabbath original. Wakeman’s brilliant piano soloing is again at the heart of the performance and bassist Tustin weighs in with an impressive solo of his own. Newell also gives an excellent performance behind the kit and the trio round things off with a rollicking ‘honky tonk’ section that is rapturously received by the Tilburg crowd.

A solo piano introduction paves the way for the trio’s swinging interpretation of “War Pigs”, with Newell’s drums periodically coming to the fore a la Bill Ward. At the Brecon show I was reminded of the fact that Bill Ward’s drumming on the Black Sabbath original was pretty jazzy – both Ward and Ian Paice of Deep Purple grew up listening to jazz big band drummers and something of that sense of swing informed the playing of both of them. The Jazz Sabbath version of “War Pigs” naturally includes more superb playing from Wakeman but Tustin is again given his head with a highly dexterous bass solo, augmented by Newell’s deft brush work. Dynamic and stylistic contrasts again add interest to the devilishly clever arrangement.

This live recording represents a very welcome souvenir of the Jazz Sabbath live experience and listening to the music in the home environment heightens one’s appreciation of just how clever Wakeman’s arrangements are. Make no mistake despite the daft spoof back story and the rock trappings Jazz Sabbath’s music is genuine jazz that really swings and you don’t have to have any knowledge of Black Sabbath’s music to enjoy it. The standard of the music is exceptional throughout, and despite my initial scepticism I’m now very much a fan of this band and would happily see them play live again.

It’s amazing just how adaptable Black Sabbath’s music is, despite that group’s unique sound. I’d love to hear a jazz big band playing versions of Black Sabbath songs, I can just imagine those mighty riffs being blasted out by baritone saxes and trombones, that really would be quite something. Maybe it’s something Wakeman could consider, but I’d be up for listening to whoever took it on. Somebody please do. — (via The Jazz Mann)

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Black Sabbath
A2 The Wizard
A3 War Pigs
B1 Behind The Wall Of Sleep
B2 Iron Man
B3 Fairies Wear Boots
C1 Hole In The Sky
C2 Paranoid
C3 Into The Void
D1 Rat Salad
D2 Children Of The Grave

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Label: Blacklake
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 2025
Genre: Jazz

File under: Jazz Groups
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