Album Notes

Jade (known as ‘Silver Jade’ in the USA) was one of the most popular UK folk rock bands of the early 1970's. Signing to Dick James Music, Folk duo Marianne Segal and Dave Waite, under the guidance of producer Jon Miller became Jade, with the addition of keyboardist/bassist and arranger Rod Edwards. In 1970 they recorded their sole album, 'Fly On Strangewings', and a single with the help of a glittering array of talent including Pete Sears (Les Fleur De Lys, Sam Gopal's Dream, Jefferson Starship), John Wetton (King Crimson, Family) Terry Cox (The Pentangle), Jimmy Litherland (Colosseum), Michael Rosen (Eclection, Fotheringay), Clem Cattini (Rumplestiltskin), Pete York (Spencer Davis Group, Hardin and York) and Mick Waller (Rod Stewart).
In 1971, Jade played one week at 'The Bitter End' in New York with Tom Paxton, 'The gate Of Horn' in Chicago and 'The Troubador' in L.A. with 'Rosebud'. This album is now reissued and available through Marianne's website.
Fast forward to 2007 and encouraged by fans, Marianne is back recording a brand new album that lives up to all the expectations generated by the first. Aided by a new crop of musical talent 'The Gathering' brings together, in a communal effort, various members of English neo-folk rock band Circulus (with whom Marianne recorded her song 'Swallow' on the debut Circulus album), guitarist Bill Steer from Firebird, string arranger Amy May (Paris Motel) and old friend Root Cartwright of Principal Edward's Magic Theatre.

The sheer breadth of material on 'The Gathering' is as awe inspiring as the original Jade record. Gentle pastoral folk rock, snuggles up in mossy hollows with dark, underground pagan pixie dance vibes and dreamy psychedelic roots folk. Strings, electric guitars, acoustic bass, synthesizers, flutes, mellotrons, harpsichords and lush harmonies are all in abeyance to Marianne's unfaded song writing which magically weaves together all of the disparate elements to form a golden musical fleece worthy of questing. 'Kicking Up The Sands Of Time' and 'Sussex Downs' are the kind of songs that emanate a sheer poetic beauty that could only come from a troubadour who has walked the path rather than just sung about it. It all comes to fruition for Marianne on this wonderful album, which neatly bookends a career with as much vigour and creativity as it was commenced with. If you buy just one folk rock album in 2008 then make sure this is it.