Formed : May 1991
Split : February 1996
Short Wave
Short Wave : Phil Miller, Hugh Hopper, Didier Malherbe and Pip Pyle
An all-star line-up which made its live debut at the Jazz Festival of Le Mans in 1991, it's a combination of musicians who had previously played together in various combinations : Phil Miller (guitar), Didier Malherbe (sax/flute), Hugh Hopper (bass) and Pip Pyle (drums). A live/studio album was released in 1993 on the French Gimini label, mixing old favourites and new compositions. Nice melodic soft-jazz with (of course) great playing. The band still plays gigs occasionally. What was initially a one-off event billed as 'Hugh Hopper and Special Friends' evolved into a long-term project. Sadly there have been no Short Wave gigs since 1996 so it should be assumed the band is no longer going.
A chronology of Short Wave's gigs :
1991
May 12 - Le Mans (France), Europa Jazz Festival [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Nov 06 - Paris (France), New Morning [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Nov 08 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Nov 09 - Clamecy (France) [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
1992
Sep 29 - Paris (France), New Morning [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Sep 30 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Oct 01 - Marseille (France), Métronome [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Oct 02 - La Garde Freinet (France), Le Lézard [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Oct 03 - Perpignan (France), Théâtre Municipal [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
Oct 05 - Lille (France), Aéronef [as Hugh Hopper & Special Friends]
1993
May 07 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne
May 08 - Clermont-Ferrand (France), Maison du Peuple
Nov 28 - London, The Orange
Dec 05 - Brentwood, New Arts Theatre
Dec 06 - Canterbury, St.Radigans Hall
Dec 07 - Whitstable, Tankerton's Arms
1994
Oct 08 - London, The Forum [Gong 25] [guest: Daevid Allen]
Oct 09 - London, The Forum [Gong 25] [guest: Daevid Allen]
Nov 24 - Breda (Netherlands), Boulevard [with Elton Dean/guest: Peavey Milestone (bass]
Nov 25 - Tourcoing (France), Theatre G.Dael [with Elton Dean]
Nov 26 - Bruxelles (Belgium), Full Moon
1995
Mar 09 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne
Mar 10 - Macon (France), La Cave à Musique
Mar 11 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne
May 06 - Lillers (France), L'Abattoir
May 10 - Tours (France), Grange de Mesley
1996
Feb 16 - Strasbourg (France), Café des Anges
Feb 17 - Sarreguemines (France), Casino