Hatfield And The Health’s Canterbury homage mutates into Fuzz Kitchen with an album of original music in the Canterbury scene style.

CANTERBURY FANS

Fuzz Kitchen are a continuation of Hatfield And The Health, a project that was started during the covid lockdown in 2020 by London based jazz musician Simon Thorpe. Originally a online recording project with the core trio of Simon, Nick Allum and Eric Baumgartner, it morphed into a live entity with the addition of another two mainstays of the UK jazz scene, Karen Sharp on saxophone and flute and guitarist Marc Ridout.

The reviewer was lucky enough to attend a couple of their shows and seeing the band run through the repertoire of National Health, Hatfield And The North and Caravan was a real treat. There was some noise that we should expect more shows in 2026 late last year but the great surprise was the change of moniker to Fuzz Kitchen and the release of an album of brand new original material (in the Canterbury style) with cameos from Richard Sinclair (former member of Caravan and Hatfield And The North) and Brian Hopper (Soft Machine). 

new material

The frantic instrumental Fuzz Kitchen (Persistent) with its groovy riff and intricate and layers of keyboard brings back memories of Egg’s most intricate work. Next is Simon’s love letter to the Canterbury scene, far from being corny Song of Canterury (Part 1) is full of humour and manages to couple a meandering melody in pure Richard Sinclair style (who guests on vocals as well Brian Hopper on saxophone) to a nice travelogue through Kent. The groovy instrumental section in the middle showcases some great guitar work by Mark Ridout while and a great flute solo by Karen brings us back neatly on the songs final part.

The more laidback Rundown with its sparse groove and sinister sax showcases the more experimental side of the Canterbury sound. Mixing the melodic and the acerbic has always been a major component of the scene so it isn’t a surprise when we return to the former with another great Simon song Together and Apart which sees him tread vocally in the steps of Richard Sinclair. This is followed swiftly by the instrumental Under the Fridge that sees the band’s improvisational muscles flexed for a beautiful result. 

a long player experience

Orionids a short cosmic number that serves as a short interlude between side one and two of the album and segues into the bucolic Slightly Rattled with its steady keyboard patterns and extended guitar solos, the track wouldn’t haven’t sounded out of place in the midst of Caravan’s Nine Feet Underground epic. Calmer Fuzz is prime Hatfield and the Health territory with its time changes and again with Simon channeling Richard Sinclair on vocal and lyrics (at almost eight minutes in length, it enables all band members to showcase their ability on their instruments).

The gentle Dawn Chorus is penned as a tribute to an essential member of the Canterbury scene keyboardist Alan Gowen (founder of Gilgamesh and Soft Heap and member of National Health). A more freeform approach is displayed in the languid Behind the Oven and strikes a more experimental vibe which is followed by Song of Canterbury (Part Two) which neatly wraps up the travelogue of the First Part, almost like an audio version of a Canterbury Scene Family Tree ! The gentle October sees a second vocal guest spot by Richard Sinclair and The Warm Phenomenon closes off the album on a suitably jazzy note.

Fuzz Kitchen are playing two live dates to celebrate the release of the album this month.

London 21st Sept here
Hastings 24th Sept here

Here’s a taster:

Fuzz Kitchen : Website 

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