Billy Jenkins Voice of God Collective: Uncommerciality Vols 1-3

As might be expected from the work of untameable Bromley guitar legend Billy Jenkins, this trilogy contains demented guitar solos, vocal choruses like a pub on a Saturday night, and chirpy kids attempting to sing through the rumpus. But Uncommerciality is also shaped with the sophistication of a major-league jazz composer; at times it has Motown soulfulness and bursts with classy solos from the likes of Iain Ballamy and Mark Lockheart. All in all it is not only Jenkins's finest hour, but a landmark in contemporary UK jazz. The three original albums, recorded in 1986, 1988 and 1991, are now available as a collection to download. The music veers from Jenkins's slide guitar-style solos (notably on Sade's Lips), howling heavy-metal guitar forays, atmospheric Liberation Music Orchestra-reminiscent pieces such as the solemn Bhopal, Ellington-meets-Motown smoochers like I will Always Love You, roaring guitar blues with Django Bates on Hammond organ and even an Ornette tribute (Dancing in Ornette Coleman's Head), that mixes punk-jazz with barndance violins. It's sometimes rough and ready, but almost always exhilarating.