kənsˈɪstɪŋ ʌv ᵻsˈɛnʃəli tˈuː klˈɪɹli dᵻfˈaɪnd lˈaɪnˈʌps, æz wˈɛl æz ɐn ˌɪntɚmˈiːdiət, tɹænsˈɪʃənəl wˌʌn, ðɪ ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl bˈænd hæd ɐ hˈɛviɚ lˈiːnɪŋ təwˈɔːɹdz dʒˈæz, ænd wʌz fˈɔːɹmd baɪ dˈɪk mˈɔːɹɪsi, ˌɔn tˈɛnɚ sˈæks ænd flˈuːt, ænd tˈɛɹi smˈɪθ ˌɔn ɡɪtˈɑːɹz, bˈoʊθ mˈɛlədi mˈeɪkɚɹ ɐwˈɔːɹdwˈɪnɪŋ bɹˈɪɾɪʃ dʒˈæz mjuːzˈɪʃənz hˌuː hæd plˈeɪd təɡˌɛðɚɹ ɪn jˌuːˈɛs sˈoʊl sˈɪŋɚ dʒˈeɪ.dʒˈeɪ. dʒˈæksənz bˈænd wɪð dˈeɪv kwˈɪnsi ˌɔn ˈæltoʊ ænd tˈɛnɚ sˈæksᵻz, təɡˌɛðɚ wɪð spˈaɪk wˈɛlz ˌɔn dɹˈʌmz, lˈaɪənəl ɡɹˈɪɡsən ˌɔn kˈiːboːɹdz ænd dˈɑːɹɹɪl ɹˈʌnswɪk ˌɔn bˈeɪs, ɔːlðˈoʊ ðiːz lˈæst θɹˈiː mjuːzˈɪʃənz dɪdnˌɑːt ɹᵻkˈoːɹd wɪððə bˈænd, wɪð wˈɛlz ɡˌoʊɪŋ ˈɔf tə dʒˈɔɪn tˈʌbi hˈeɪz.
Consisting of essentially two clearly defined line-ups, as well as an intermediate, transitional one, the original band had a heavier leaning towards jazz, and was formed by Dick Morrissey, on tenor sax and flute, and Terry Smith on guitars, both Melody Maker award-winning British jazz musicians who had played together in US soul singer J.J. Jackson's band with Dave Quincy on alto and tenor saxes, together with Spike Wells on drums, Lionel Grigson on keyboards and Daryl Runswick on bass, although these last three musicians did not record with the band, with Wells going off to join Tubby Hayes.