Brian Augers Oblivion Express

Brian Auger (born 18 July 1939, Bihar, India [1]), is a jazz and rock keyboardist, who has specialised in playing the Hammond organ. His mentor was the famous organist, Jimmy Smith. A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and others. He has incorporated jazz, early British pop, R&B, soul music and rock, and he has been nominated for a Grammy.

A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and others. He has incorporated jazz, early British pop, R&B, soul music and rock, and he has been nominated for a Grammy.

Career
In 1965 Auger formed the group The Steampacket, along with Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Vic Briggs and Rod Stewart. With Driscoll and the band, Trinity, he went on to record several hit singles, notably a cover version of David Ackles' "Road to Cairo" and Bob Dylan's "This Wheel's on Fire".

In 1970 he formed Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. The Oblivion Express served to cultivate several musicians, including future The Average White Band drummers Robbie Mackintosh and Steve Ferrone, as well as guitarist Jim Mullen. Likewise, in 1971 he produced and appeared on Mogul Thrash's only album. Two members of that band, Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan, would also go on to form the Average White Band.

In 1989, Auger was musical director for the thirteen-part film retrospective series "Villa Fantastica", made for German TV. A live recording of the series, Super Jam (1990), features Auger on piano, Pete York on drums, Dick Morrissey on tenor saxophone, Roy Williams on trombone, Harvey Weston on bass guitar, with singers Zoot Money and Maria Muldaur.

Auger toured with blues rocker Eric Burdon in the early 1990s, and recorded the album Access All Areas: Live with him in 1993. After several projects, including albums with family members, he reformed the Oblivion Express in the late 1990s, with a line-up that eventually featured both his son and daughter.

The newly revived Oblivion Express played at the 2006 Starwood Festival[2], featuring Brian's son Karma Auger on drums, his daughter Savannah Auger on vocals, and Derek Frank on bass.


[edit] Discography
1965 - Don't Send Me No Flowers - Sonny Boy Williamson
1965-1969 - The Mod Years (Complete singles, B-sides, and rare tracks)
1967 - Open (Trinity's first album)
1968 - Definitely What (First solo album)
1969 - Streetnoise (double album)
1967/1970 - Befour (Last Brian Auger Trinity album)
1970 - Oblivion Express (First Oblivion Express album)
1971 - A Better Land (Oblivion Express)
1972 - Second Wind (Oblivion Express)
1973 - Closer To It (Oblivion Express)
1975 - Straight Ahead (Oblivion Express)
1975 - Live Oblivion Volume 1
1975 - Live Oblivion Volume 2
1975 - Reinforcements (Oblivion Express)
1976 - Best of Brian Auger (double album)
1975 - Happiness Heartaches (Oblivion Express)
1977 - Encore - Brian Auger & Julie Tippetts (Reunion album)
1980 - Search Party
1982 - Here and Now
1987 - Keys to the Heart
1990 - Super Jam - Villa Fantastica
1993 - Access All Areas: Live - Eric Burdon/Brian Auger Band (double album)
1993 - Tony Williams: Live in Tokyo 1978
1998 - Blue Groove - Karma Auger
1999 - Voices of Other Times (Oblivion Express)
2001 - Soft & Furry - Ali Auger
2004 - Auger Rhythms: Brian Augers Musical History (The Trinity, Julie Driscoll, Oblivion Express)
2005 - Brian Auger: Insights of the Keyboard Master (DVD)
2005 - Looking In the Eye of the World (Oblivion Express)
2005 - Live at the Baked Potato (Oblivion Express) Double CD
2005 - Live at the Baked Potato (Oblivion Express) DVD