MASTERS OF ART (Motto: 'Loud Music For Quiet People') is the label run by Judge Smith to manufacture and release CDs of his own projects. Founded in 2000, Masters Of Art currently offers some very different audio creations. Judge Smith, Songwriter, Composer and Performer, has been making innovative, unusual and entertaining music since the late '60s, when he co-founded the influential band Van der Graaf Generator.
The Tribal Elders/The Light of the World & I Don't Know What I'm Doing ....import CD single $9.99
(excerpt from 'The Light of the World')
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THE ELDERS HAVE CHOSEN TO ROCK! A new band with familiar faces who present a very special two-song cd single. The Tribal Elders are composer and vocalist Judge Smith, founder-member of Van der Graaf Generator, saxophonist David Jackson, long-time star of the same band, John 'Fury' Ellis, guitarist of the vibrators and the stranglers, Michael-Ward Bergeman and Riki Patten. This release is a two-song CD single of hard-driving, punk orchestral rock music. Both songs were spontaneously 'received' or 'channelled' complete by Judge, under curious circumstances, and sound nothing like anything these musicians have done before. This single is David Jackson's first record post Van der Graaf Generator. First 1000 copies are hand numbered on the disc and the card sleeve.
Judge Smith/The Vesica ....import CD $18.99
(excerpt from 'Petrissage en Bleu')
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An instrumental album from Judge Smith, a founder-member of Van der Graaf Generator. Uniquely relaxing and memorably melodic music, performed by soft piano, gentle strings, ethereal voices and sweet electronics. Judge Smith composed the album as a musical accompaniment to Physical Therapy, in consultation with Holistic Therapist Fiona Lindsay. Neither of them has a high opinion of the vast majority of 'New Age' or 'Relaxation' music that is currently available, and Judge became intrigued with Fiona's challenge to him to do something better. 'THE VESICA' is the result of a long process of composition, and whatever the album is, it certainly isn't another quick, knock-off, New Age pot-boiler. As each movement was completed, it was tested on Fiona's clients, so, although this is its first release, 'THE VESICA' has already been extensively tested in professional practice, and its music does appear to be particularly effective in reinforcing the relaxing effects of physical therapy. It has also been chosen for use during Music Therapy sessions at a major London hospital. But though written for therapists, 'THE VESICA' has an appeal beyond the Treatment Room, and anyone who loves melodic music with the accent on deep relaxation will like this 76 minute CD. And for those of you who are understandably wary of 'Relaxation Music', we can promise you there are no endless drones, and no pan-pipes, didgeridoos, tribal chanting, sounds-of-the-rain-forest, or whales. Just great tunes.
Judge Smith/The Full English ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'We Want Some of It')
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Since he co-founded the influential band, Van Der Graaf Generator in 1967 with Peter Hammill, Judge Smith has been involved in many different music projects, either as composer, librettist or performer, but he has released only a small number of albums, culminating in the massive, double-CD, narrative work 'Curly's Airships' of 2000. His first album since the release of this epic 'songstory', Judge's new CD is a return to a more traditional format. THE FULL ENGLISH is a album of songs accompanied by a small group, mainly of acoustic instruments. Accordion, guitar, piano, organ, bass and drums, in various combinations, give the album an 'unplugged' feel, and showcase a collection of Judge's songs that are as original, unusual, and downright quirky, as one would expect from this unconventional and surprising artist. Despite Judge's eclectic approach to songwriting, THE FULL ENGLISH sounds surprisingly coherent and consistent, due mainly to his choice of musicians. The guitar and bass of John Ellis (of the Vibrators, Peter Gabriel Band, Peter Hammill's K Group, and the Stranglers), Michael Ward-Bergeman's work on accordion, piano and organ, and the contributions of percussionist René van Commenée, create a distinctive and congenial sound-world, with Michael's remarkable accordion skills being a particular feature. Perhaps his most immediately accessible album to date, those who already know Judge's work will certainly not be disappointed by this CD; while those who have not yet heard his music will find THE FULL ENGLISH an excellent introduction to this refreshingly unconventional, and very 'English', talent.
Judge Smith/Live in Italy 2005 ....import DVD-PAL region 0 $29.99
The "Live in Italy 2005" DVD contains the full Judge Smith concert staged in Guastalla on October 8th, 2005 in front of an audience of 300. Judge is backed by a full rock band, with John Ellis on guitar, Michael-Ward Bergeman on piano, keyboards and accordion, Gigi Cavalli Cocchi on drums and Marco Olivotto on bass (guest). Over 90 minutes of raw energy, wit, and great songs, featuring all the material from The Full English and then taking a serious plunge into Judge's back catalogue. The concert is closed by the most amazing version of 'Viking' ever released. Please note this is a PAL DVD (although most computer DVD players have no trouble playing PAL).
Judge Smith/Curly's Airships ....double import CD $26.99
(excerpt from 'The Morning After')
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Curly's Airships is a work of words and music on a grand scale. It tells the true and extraordinary story of the giant dirigibles of the 1924 Imperial Airship Scheme and the man who flew them, a story whose climax is the destruction of the world's biggest airship, the R.101, on its maiden voyage to India in 1930. Six years in the making, 'Curly's Airships' is probably one of the largest and most ambitions single pieces of rock music ever recorded! Many will recognize Judge Smith as one of the earliest members of Van der Graaf Generator and also the librettist for the opera, Fall of the House of Usher, with music composed and performed by Peter Hammill. Almost two and a half hours, Judge Smith, guitarist John Ellis and VdGG organist Hugh Banton appear throughout this recording. The album also features notable guest appearances from Peter Hammill, David Jackson, Arthur Brown, Pete Brown, Paul Roberts and many more. Destined to be a classic and a must have for all Van der Graaf Generator fans. This is not actually a Fie! release as it's put out by Judge himself. But this seemed the best place to put it.
David Jackson/Guastalla (2nd edition) ....import DVD (PAL region 0) $25.99
This is the second edition of the epic concert of David Jackson in Guastalla, Italy, on Nov 23, 2002. More than 90 minutes of live saxophones, soundbeam and assorted woodwinds which gathered a lot of attention around the magnificent "Van Gogh of the Saxophone" - as he was christened in the 70s. The second edition is on a single DVD (originally a double), but it contains all the original material (about 90'), along with 15' of extra footage shot during David's residency in Guastalla in 2004. This features a soundbeam workshop, an improvisation with puppets, and two almost-impromptu numbers with other musicians ("Vision" by Peter Hammill and an excerpt from Jackson's "Anvil Rings"). Vastly improved image quality: the cameras were colour-matched, the format is now progressive scan (non-interlaced), new menus, title bars, etc. Please note that many computer DVD-Roms will play PAL DVD's. Otherwise you'll need an all code DVD player to view on your television.
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