Blue Rondo à la Turk (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Chris Sullivan |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
Blue Rondo à la Turk was a British band from the early 1980s that fused elements of salsa, pop, and cool jazz. The group achieved two entries on the UK Singles Chart with their 1981 release "Me and Mr. Sanchez" and the 1982 track "Klactoveesedstein." They are also recognized for featuring musicians who later established the jazz/Latin/pop ensemble Matt Bianco.
Formation and initial achievements (1981–1982)
The band was created by vocalist and lyricist Chris Sullivan, who relocated to London from Merthyr Tydfil during the mid-1970s. Sullivan’s vision was to "revive show business," describing their musical style as “Latin American jazz infused with funk and African influences.” He was a principal songwriter and also designed the group's unique cubist-inspired visuals. Their name draws inspiration from a composition by Dave Brubeck.
The original six-member lineup consisted of Sullivan, Christos Tolera (vocals), Mark Reilly (guitar), Mick "Choco Mick" Bynoe (drums and timbales), Kito Poncioni (bass), and Geraldo D'Arbilly (percussion). Songwriting was mainly handled by Sullivan, Poncioni, and Reilly. Under the production of Pete Wingfield, "Me and Mr. Sanchez" reached number 40 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1981 and climbed to number 68 in Australia; it also dominated Brazilian charts for three months and was selected as the official theme for the 1982 World Cup.
Their second single, "Klactoveesedstein," produced by Kevin Godley & Lol Creme, peaked at number 50 in March 1982. Saxophonist Moses Mount Bassie joined for their third single, "The Heavens Are Crying," co-written with Clive Langer and produced by Langer alongside Alan Winstanley; however, this release did not chart. The fourth single, "Carioca," co-written by Daniel White (who soon became an official member) and produced by Mike Chapman, reached number 143.
The debut album Chewing the Fat, released in 1982, compiled these singles and saw the band expand to ten members with additions including Art Collins (saxophone), Tholo Peter Tsegona (trumpet), and Daniel White (keyboards). The album entered the UK Albums Chart on 6 November 1982, peaking at number 80 during a two-week tenure.
Personnel shifts, sophomore album, and disbandment (1983–1984)
Following modest results from their first album, Blue Rondo à la Turk experienced significant lineup changes as Reilly, Poncioni, and White left to establish the soon-to-be successful group Matt Bianco. Additionally, Collins, Tsegona, Mount Bassie, and Bynoe departed, leaving only Sullivan, Tolera (both vocalists), and D'Arbilly (percussionist) remaining.
The reduced trio abbreviated their name to Blue Rondo and issued two singles that did not chart: "Slipping Into Daylight" in 1983 and "Masked Moods" in 1984. Both tracks were penned by Sullivan with outside collaborators and produced by Steve Brown.
These singles were included on their 1984 album Bees Knees and Chicken Elbows, which was released after the group had already dissolved.
Reissues
Capitalizing on Matt Bianco's popularity, Virgin Records released a compilation in 1986 titled Too Soon To Come, credited to "Blue Rondo à la Turk Featuring Mark Reilly & Danny White." This LP featured all six UK singles alongside selected tracks from their album, regardless of Reilly or White’s involvement.
On 16 June 2014, Cherry Red Records issued a double-CD edition of Chewing the Fat (catalogue number CDBRED621), encompassing 29 tracks that included all original album cuts plus bonus material such as 7" and 12" versions along with remixes.