E in omaggio a Barbara Thompson (1944-2022) c'è First Light, prodotto da Jazz in Britain a sostegno delle cure per il Parkinson in Gran Bretagna e distribuito in concomitanza con il concerto in memoria della bandleader e sassofonista tenuto pochi giorni fa a Londra: tre distinte sessioni con tre diversi organici, datate 1971 e 1972, cui parteciparono tra gli altri Jon Hiseman, Norma Winstone, Neil Ardley, Ian Carr, Pete Lemer, Johnny Dyani, Laurie Allan, Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Don Rendell, Howard Riley, Jeff Clyne, Roy Babbington e Trevor Tomkins.
Specially produced by Jazz In Britain in partnership with Cure Parkinson’s and Temple Music with all net profits being donated to Cure Parkinson’s. Presented in a replica gatefold card sleeve, the album features three recently discovered, previously unreleased, early seventies Barbara Thompson sessions. The earliest session from 1971 features the first ever appearance of Group E and may be one of the very few times that Barbara played with Blue Notes bassist Johnny Dyani. The second session is also interesting in that it’s a fairly big, 12-piece, band including some very famous name soloists and consists of a three-part suite called The Awakening. Featured soloists are Barbara, Don Rendell, Henry Lowther (on violin) and Barbara’s husband Jon Hiseman. The third session is a very early version of the band Jubiaba, recorded nearly 6 years before their first album was released, and again features a superb group of musicians including Trevor Tomkins and Ian Carr.