The Savage Rose (Psyche-Prog or Proto)

The Danish Library system has almost all albums from The Savage Rose ( Maybe all I´m not sure) among lots of other things featured on PA. A great resourse if you don´t want to buy every album you review. And it´s a legal way too. Now that´s one of the reasons why we pay the highest taxes in the world ( at least one of the highest anyway).

The Savage, was formed in 1967 by

Thomas Koppel: Composer, Keyboards, Lyrics (After Anders left)

At the age of 18 Thomas Koppel 's wrote a Hans Christian Andersen opera 'A MOTHER'S TALE', and became a sensation for it's dramatic power and professionalism, vocal knowledge, and sophisticated orchestration. A MOTHER'S TALE was performed by THE ROYAL OPERA for two consecutive seasons. During his teens and earliest twenties Thomas Koppel's musical compositions developed into larger, important orchestral works, performed by major orchestras and soloists.

'Ouverture Solennelle' for orchestra, awarded 1st prize in the International Composers' Competition of the City of Copenhagen at the 800 Year Anniversary. At the age of just 21, Thomas Koppel completed his education as a classical pianist at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory with the Soloist Degree and Soloist Diploma. In 1968 at the age of 24 he’s had become so influenced by the “beat” music of the 60’s, that he decided to form the Savage Rose. And he was the major force behind the band to his death in 2006. Alongside Savage Rose Thomas composed classical works, mainly in the 90’s.

Annisette : Vocal, Lyrics (after Anders Left)

Her unique voice is no doubt as important as Thomas Music, Savage Rose wouldent be Savage Rose without her, she is still performing with Savage Rose, even though Thomas Koppel (also her husband) departed in 2006 

Anders Koppel: Keyboards, Lyrics

The brother of Thomas, and co-founder of Savage Rose, contributed writing all the lyrics and playing Keybords, until he left the band in 1974. Not long after his departure he formed the

Danish Jazz Fusion band Bazar, making several great albums, the latest in 2006.

Since 1997 he has also written quite a few classical works, amongst others Concerts for Marimba !!

 Alex Riel : Drums

When Alex joined The Savage Rose he was already a well known Danish Jazz Drummer, playing live with international names like Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd og Yusef Lateef in Copenhagen, and touring as part of Bill Evans Trio all over Europe.

He stayed with Savage Rose for 5 years, after witch he again became part of the Jazz Scene.

He has played with Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Archie Shepp, Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Petrucciani, Gary Burton, John Scofield and David Sanborn.

Alex Riel is no doubt the greatest drummer Denmark has produced, although Lars Ulrik (Metalica) have earned a bit more money J

Jens Rugsted: Bass

Flemming Ostermann: Guitar

Nils Tuxen replaced Flemming Ostermann from their second album.

 

Savage Rose made 6 albums with this constellation, the last “Dødens Triumf”

(triumph of death) an instrumental (with one song) ballet, the most classical music inspired they ever did. The album became an huge success. A 2-LP version was realeased in 1979, but redrawn quickly, it was sold in about 50 copys, before the sales was stopped by legal action from T. Koppel. The ballet, became the biggest success ever of The Royal Ballet - a sell-out over 30 years now, with performances as far as at the The Metropolitan in New York. With more than 250,000 sold, The CD/LP is one of the biggest selling mostly instrumental records ever in Scandinavia. The theme song has newly been re-released in the US by Rhino Records.

The original band split up, Savage Rose recorded the gospel/jazz-albummet "Babylon". The core was now Annisette, Thomas og Anders, with help from saxofon Ben Webster,

Drums Alex Riel, Bass Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen and an  American gospelgroup.

After this they put together yet another Rock band, and recorded Wild Child the last “English”

Album, for a long time to come.

Savage Rose (mainly Thomas & Anisette) had lost interest in the Record Industri. They stil play music, but now free concerts in small communities of copenhagen, had become their focus, and the songwriting was now by Annisette in Danish.

In 1976 drummer John Ravn becomes a permanent member.

From 1978 – 1994 Savage Rose made recordings again, all of them in Danish, and with a much more acoustic sound than before. The Lyrics are increasingly Political, as everything else about

Savage Rose, actively denying themselves any major income from their art. Living in the Slums of Copenhagen, when not touring Europe.

In 1995 they sign a contract with Mega Records, and trough contacts in Copenhagen met with George Duke (Yes that GD). Thomas and Annisette moved to Los Angeles, where George produced

Black Angel. Savage Rose had changed a lot, the sound was American Jazz, Soul, Reagge but never the less it was somehow still very much Savage Rose. The record becomes a major hit in Denmark.

Putting Savage Rose back up where they were in the early 70’s.

They made a coupple of more records, before Thomas suddently died in 2006, but Black Angel is the best recording from this last period. Savage Rose still tour, playing a lot of gigs during 2008.

I’we seen Savage Rose life several times and nothing’s as touching as Annisette singing.

 

   

Edited by tamijo - January 27 2009 at 13:26

On the workbench of the psych/space team now, fellows.

But it may take time because they have a lot of albums out. I've listened to In the Plain - many folksy elements as for the first songs - the second half is more psych - proto prog is problematic because they are still on the run what I know ...

Edited by Rivertree - January 27 2009 at 15:57

Added to Prog Related.