East of Eden

The Profile

East of Eden are a British progressive rock band formed in England’s West Country in 1968, led by violinist Dave Arbus. They debuted with Mercator Projected (1969) on Deram, followed by the more adventurous Snafu (1970). Their instrumental single Jig‑a‑Jig reached No. 7 in the UK charts.

Led by Dave Arbus; early work released on Deram. Snafu (1970) blended prog, jazz and Eastern elements and reached No. 29 on the UK album chart. The instrumental Jig‑a‑Jig peaked at No. 7 in the UK. Dave Arbus played the violin on The Who’s Baba O’Riley.

British prog outfit East of Eden blend progressive rock with jazz and Eastern elements, led by violinist Dave Arbus. Reviews praise Snafu for its maturity and adventurous spirit, while Mercator Projected is seen as a promising yet uneven debut. Jig‑a‑Jig stands out as their UK hit. The writing highlights free‑jazz touches, ethnic colors, and Arbus’s prominent violin.