Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead is an album by South African double bassist and composer Harry Miller and his band Isipingo. Featuring five original compositions, it was recorded during 1975–1977 in London, and was released in 2009 by the Canadian label Reel Recordings. On the album, which features several different lineups of the band, Miller is joined by saxophonist Mike Osborne, trumpeters Mark Charig and Mongezi Feza, trombonists Nick Evans, Malcolm Griffiths, and Paul Neiman, pianists Frank Roberts, Keith Tippett, and Stan Tracey, and drummer Louis Moholo. Issued 26 years after Miller's death, Full Steam Ahead was Isipingo's third album. Reception In a 5-star review for All About Jazz, Nic Jones stated that "this music can reflect a fundamental joy of life," and commented: "That is, of course, something in itself. It's the best kind of realization to know that these guys could summon it up so easily, even in the face of life's adversities." Point of Departure'''s Ed Hazell called the album "some of best music the band ever recorded," and wrote: "The sextet strikes an ideal balance between the melodic warmth and infectious groove of the South African music and the boundary pushing of British free jazz of the period. Miller is a big-hearted composer; he writes inviting melodies over dancing rhythms that the band can use, vary, or overturn as they see fit."