Spring Heel Jack
{{short description|English electronic music duo}}
{{other uses|Spring-heeled Jack (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Spring Heel Jack
| image = Spring Heel Jack (Ashley Wales and John Coxon), 25 January 1996, Tartu, Estonia (Club Illusioon).jpg
| caption = Spring Heel Jack (Ashley Wales and John Coxon), 25 January 1996, Tartu, Estonia (Club Illusioon)
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = London, England
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 1994–present
| label = Treader
| website =
| current_members = Ashley Wales
John Coxon
| past_members =
}}
Spring Heel Jack is an English electronic music duo, consisting of John Coxon and Ashley Wales.
Formed in 1993 in London, England, Spring Heel Jack began their career exploring drum and bass and jungle, but have since branched out into free improvisation and jazz, collaborating with many musicians from Europe and the United States.
History
Wales was formerly a composer of contemporary classical music and leader of the band Crazy About Love, while Coxon was a successful remixer and producer (most notably for Betty Boo) prior to their joining forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/grrr%21-its-betty-boo-mw0000088988/credits |title=Grrr! It's Betty Boo – Betty Boo | Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=1992-11-10 |access-date=2013-08-09}}
Their first three drum and bass albums released during the 1990s earned positive reviews for their innovative take on the genre. They also co-wrote and produced the 1996 track "Walking Wounded", a major UK hit for Everything But The Girl{{cite web|author=John Bush |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/spring-heel-jack-mn0000790670/biography |title=Spring Heel Jack | Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2013-08-09}} featuring Ben Watt who had earlier been sacked from Crazy About Love.
The cinematic Disappeared (2000) marked a transition for Wales and Coxon, and featured the British saxophonist John Surman, whose appearance was a harbinger of later changes.
Masses (2001), the first of several albums for the cross-genre Blue Series on Thirsty Ear, was an even more radical departure. Collaborators included saxophonists Evan Parker, John Tchicai and Tim Berne; bassist William Parker; trumpeters Roy Campbell, Kenny Wheeler and Wadada Leo Smith; trombonist Paul Rutherford; drummer Han Bennink; pianist Matthew Shipp; and guitarist Jason Pierce.
In 2006 Coxon and Wales began to operate a record label, Treader, releasing CDs by themselves and other associated artists, including some of their recent collaborators.
Selected discography
;Albums
- There are Strings (1995)
- 68 Million Shades... (1996)
- Versions (1996)
- Busy, Curious, Thirsty (1997){{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/busy-curious-thirsty-mw0000595699|title=Busy Curious Thirsty – Spring Heel Jack | Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2020-03-16}}
- Treader (1999)
- Oddities (2000)
- Disappeared (2000)
- Masses (2001)
- Amassed (2002)
- The Sweetness of the Water (2004)
- Songs and Themes (2008){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/spring-heel-jack-mn0000790670/discography |title=Spring Heel Jack | Discography |website=AllMusic |access-date=2013-08-09}}
- Hackney Road (2018) SHJ and Wadada Leo Smith with Pat Thomas and Steve Noble
;Live albums
- Live (2003)
- Live in Antwerp (2014) with Pat Thomas, Alex Ward, Paul Lytton
;EPs
- Bombscare (Tugboat, 2000) with Low
;With Han Bennink
- Amplified Trio (Treader, 2007)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://treader-recordings.bandcamp.com/ Treader (Coxon and Wales's label)] on Bandcamp
{{Authority control}}