Free Style Live from Oxford England

Bernie (my dads friend Air Force Chief Mr. Bernard A. Williams) has this picture in one of his homes. Of a group of mostly Air Force GI's and some not GI's with jazz instruments. I never had a chance to hear the tracks but I never doubt my Pop's friends. "Dosh" (good friend in Turkish) had 2 frames. In one frame minus two the white British "cats" (what we in Jazzdom call people or the jazz crowd as in those are jazz cool cats and it applies to men and women young or old like me). As I was saying in one frame are the very young members of "Free Style" including Dosh and starting with him and no offense to the other jazz cool "cats." The picture shows "Dosh" on the picture is his name Bernie Williams (Drums) one of my faves if I could play. Next is Robert Butler "Rob" (Congas),James Burke "James" (guitar),Mark Mullin (sax which is my all time to listen to instrument). Lee Ellis (trumpet), and Rudy Jackson and the 2 cool cats that are missing off the photo. Hopefully they read this and I hope maybe they will get back together. In the other frame David, Lee, Vern and Will and the other cool "Cats" I mentioned more or less. It looks like some members may have come and gone. But for this writing I am including everyone so I can stay out of trouble.

Now you see I have titled this Free Style live from Oxford and the sub title is Before Shakatak there was Free Style. Now we are all familiar with the globally popular group Shakatak from Great Britain. My fave song of late "Day By Day" just sticks in brain. Plays at will like like a tape recorder in my head. Makes you think of my poem "The Music in my Head." Now Shakatak's music is beautiful. Cool, smooth jazz. Whether you are in the UK or the USA. I have been listening to these cool cats with women and men in the group. Ever since I was living in the UK in the late seventies and early eighties. And don't have them in front of me meaning a play list as in "night birds" "Down on the street" and so on takes me back to my military kid Anglo-roots in East Anglia living and growing up in Britain. And hearing Shakatak on British radio. And dancing to them in the clubs. Now let me put the brakes on!!! At the same time. Though I was not lucky or old enough (still in Secondary school) to see or hear them. Was my dad's friends group, Free Style. Which were as I have stated mostly young African-American Air Force guys and 2 British guys. Bernie told me that rounded out the group and without hopefully insulting "Free Style" or "Shakatak". "Dosh" told me that Shakatak sounded like them or it could be that "Free Style" sounded like Shakatak. So don't hate me "Sarge" or Shakatak. I like you both. I never had the chance to hear "Dosh" play them for me. He had them on cassette tape from there early days in England in Oxford. And where did they form. On a base called RAF Upper Heyford Air Base in England. They are and were a Jazz-Funk band. The way "Dosh" describes them. They sounded very smooth. We'd be in "Dosh's" car. And he heard a song or Shakatak. And he'd say. That sounds like us. He told me. That when they played in Oxford. The British that listened and followed them were "diggin" their music. It was standing room only. I have no doubt. That they sound as "Dosh" describes them. Very smooth with a sound like Shakatak or vice versa. Now I am sure you and maybe some of Bernie's band if they read this want to know is this story for real. So here are a couple of songs. "Mind you"( as they say in the UK ) these are original song titles and songs written and played by the group called "Free Style" here we go: Dosh in one story was telling me about one the members that was tapping his feet in a happy way so the song was produced "Happy Feet" another original song puts you in mind of the lovely Caribbean so the song was produced "Caribbean Spaces." I was not able to get more for my playlist.

"Dosh" has kept in contact with one of the original members of "Free Style" his music is on ITunes. Sorry you must contact him to get his name. Dosh lives in Titusville. He has a home in Merritt Island and a rental in Cocoa. His name is Mr. Bernard A. Williams. I told him. I'd write about his group. He grinned at me. Like I was losing my mind. Well "Dosh" I kept my word. It is his hope that one day. He finds all the members including the two British "Cats" and gets them all back together. I hope so also. And he wants to write a book or a lot of us want him to write a book. "Dosh" has known me all my life from a six year old to now almost 5 decades old. And still trucking. "Dosh" also is a "killer" basketball player and so are many of his friends and family members. He is also a ACE Bowler in Titusville. And his book would be great reading. My Pop's like Robin Hood had a merry band of guys. Hopefully they all write books including a book from my dad also. I hope you have enjoyed this. It was fun writing it. I wish I had been able to have had a chance to have heard his tape before I left from my Florida visit. But maybe we will all get a chance to hear them and read Dosh's book. Stay tuned. And hey thanks for the story my good friend and friend of my dad's "Dosh" may you always live long and prosper. And I hope you get FREE STYLE LIVE FROM OXFORD back together again.