Record Reviews

GRAHAM COLLIER ~ SYMPHONY OF SCORPIONS / THE DAY OF THE DEAD BGO 1028 (Barcode: 5017261210289) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1976 - 1978 Released: 2011 Composer / arranger / bandleader / bassist Graham CollierFind albums by this artist, a dear personal friend of mine who died in 2011, is one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz, and his contribution to the genre as a musician, educator and writer are monumental. Although initially schooled in the US (Collier was the first student from the UK to be awarded a scholarship at the Berklee School of Music in Boston in the 1960s), he was in fact one of the pioneers of the European Jazz, accepting the American Jazz tradition as a basis for further development and exploration based on the European cultural heritage. His innovative approach as a composer and arranger were immensely influential not only on the local British scene, but also throughout the entire Europe, especially his usage of irregular meters and time signatures. Over the years Collier composed and recorded a colossal body of work, which includes some of the greatest music of the 20th Century. This album, which is a fourth installment and a companion to the three previous BGO reissues of his early recordings, includes the last two recordings by Collier released on his own record label MosaicFind albums on this label Records, one of the first independently owned Jazz labels in Britain. He composed all the music presented here and plays bass on the first recordings (something he was to abandon in the future) and the lineups of the three ensembles include some of the greatest players on the British scene at the time: Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Malcolm GriffithsFind albums by this artist (trombone), Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist, Mike PageFind albums by this artist, Art ThemenFind albums by this artist (saxophone), Ed SpeightFind albums by this artist (guitar), Roger DeanFind albums by this artist (piano), Roy BabbingtonFind albums by this artist (bass) and Alan JacksonFind albums by this artist, John WebbFind albums by this artist (drums). Many of these players were to become future leaders of course, as Collier’s ensembles served as an excellent breeding ground for young players, similar to what happened on the Blues scene with John MayallFind albums by this artist’s ensembles. Both these releases were inspired by the works of British poet and novelist Malcolm LowryFind albums by this artist, one of the most innovative writers of the 20th Century. "The Day Of The DeadFind albums with this title" (originally released as a double LP) includes extended fragments from Lowry´s masterpiece "Under The Volcano" and his other writings, narrated by John CarberyFind albums by this artist on top of the music performed by the band. Both works rank amongst Collier´s greatest achievements and his most adventurous recordings, with a loose composed frame and extensive group improvisations. Collier is often called the Charles MingusFind albums by this artist of European Jazz, and the parallels are obvious. The music is of course absolutely stunning, from start to finish, and brilliantly performed. Every moment on this album is just right, brilliant and timeless, which makes it not only a perfect document of the era, but also a piece of music that retains its intrinsic values forever. Absolutely essential!

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GRAHAM COLLIER ~ DEEP DARK BLUE CENTRE / PORTRAITS / THE ALTERNATE MOSAICS BGO 822 (Barcode: 5017261208224) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 - 1972 Released: 2008 Composer / arranger / bandleader / bassist Graham CollierFind albums by this artist is one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz, and his contribution to the genre as a musician, educator and writer are monumental. Although initially schooled in the US (Collier was the first student from the UK to be awarded a scholarship at the Berklee School of Music in Boston in the 1960s), he was in fact one of the pioneers of the European Jazz, accepting the American Jazz tradition as a basis for further development and exploration based on the European cultural heritage. His innovative approach as a composer and arranger were immensely influential not only on the local British scene, but also throughout the entire Europe, especially his usage of irregular meters and time signatures. Over the years Collier composed and recorded a colossal body of work, which includes some of the greatest music of the 20th Century. This album, which is a companion to the previous BGOFind albums on this label reissue of his early recordings, includes the very first recording by Collier released on DeramFind albums on this label in 1967, his last of the early 1970s recordings released on the tiny SaydiscFind albums by this artist label in 1972, before he established his own records label MosaicFind albums on this label, and a sensational never previously released alternate version of the live material, which produced the original "MosaicsFind albums with this title" album. He composed all the music presented here (except one tune) and plays bass (something he was to abandon in the future) and the lineups of the three ensembles include some of the greatest players on the British scene at the time: Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist, Bob SydorFind albums by this artist, Dave AaronFind albums by this artist (saxophone), Karl JenkinsFind albums by this artist (oboe), Ed SpeightFind albums by this artist, Philip LeeFind albums by this artist (guitar), Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist (piano) and John MarshallFind albums by this artist, John WebbFind albums by this artist (drums). Many of these players were to become future leaders of course, as Collier’s ensembles served as an excellent breeding ground for young players, similar to what happened on the Blues scene with John MayallFind albums by this artist’s ensembles. Collier of often called the Charles MingusFind albums by this artist of European Jazz, and the parallels are obvious. The music is of course absolutely stunning, from start to finish, and brilliantly performed. Every moment on this album is just right, brilliant and timeless, which makes it not only a perfect document of the era, but also a piece of music that retains its intrinsic values forever. Absolutely essential!

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GRAHAM COLLIER ~ DARIUS / MIDNIGHT BLUE / NEW CONDITIONS BGO 895 (Barcode: 5017261208958) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2009 Composer / arranger / bandleader / bassist Graham CollierFind albums by this artist is one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz, and his contribution to the genre as a musician, educator and writer are monumental. Although initially schooled in the US (Collier was the first student from the UK to be awarded a scholarship at the Berklee School of Music in Boston in the 1960s), he was in fact one of the pioneers of the European Jazz, accepting the American Jazz tradition as a basis for further development and exploration based on the European cultural heritage. His innovative approach as a composer and arranger were immensely influential not only on the local British scene, but also throughout the entire Europe, especially his usage of irregular meters and time signatures. Over the years Collier composed and recorded a colossal body of work, which includes some of the greatest music of the 20th Century. This album, which is a third installment and a companion to the two previous BGOFind albums on this label reissues of his early recordings, includes the first three recordings by Collier released on his own record label MosaicFind albums on this label Records, one of the first independently owned Jazz labels in Britain. He composed all the music presented here and plays bass (something he was to abandon in the future) and the lineups of the three ensembles include some of the greatest players on the British scene at the time: Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Derek WadsworthFind albums by this artist (trombone), Art ThemenFind albums by this artist (saxophone), Ed SpeightFind albums by this artist (guitar), Geoff CastleFind albums by this artist, Roger DeanFind albums by this artist (piano) and John WebbFind albums by this artist (drums). Many of these players were to become future leaders of course, as Collier’s ensembles served as an excellent breeding ground for young players, similar to what happened on the Blues scene with John MayallFind albums by this artist’s ensembles. Collier of often called the Charles MingusFind albums by this artist of European Jazz, and the parallels are obvious. The music is of course absolutely stunning, from start to finish, and brilliantly performed. Every moment on this album is just right, brilliant and timeless, which makes it not only a perfect document of the era, but also a piece of music that retains its intrinsic values forever. Absolutely essential!

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STAN SULZMANN ~ ON LOAN WITH GRATITUDE JAZZ IN BRITAIN 48 (Barcode: 5060774190500) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1977 Released: 2023 This is an expanded and long overdue reissue / remaster of the debut album as a leader by British Jazz saxophonist / flautist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with keyboardist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony LevinFind albums by this artist. Bassist Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist appears on one track. The album was originally released on the MosaicFind albums on this label label, owned by Graham CollierFind albums by this artist and presented just three tracks, one of which was a three-part suite. Sadly, the studio tapes were lost and the music was transferred from a vinyl copy. This expanded 2CD edition adds no less than eight bonus tracks, recorded before the album recording and taken from tape archives, which include early versions of two of the tracks on the album, including the suite. All the music was composed by Sulzmann. The music, to which I have often returned to over the years, is absolutely sensational, as expected. Sultzmann and his cohorts were among the finest British Jazz players / composers of the period and by the mid-1970s were all at their full capacity, producing brilliant, vibrant and highly original music, probably the best British Jazz ever. The Mosaic label was one of the first independent / musician-owned British Jazz labels and offered an opportunity to release original music by other musicians, in addition to presenting the music by its owner. Sadly, several of the albums released at the time, remain still unreleased on CD to this very day, waiting for the good people of the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label to follow the example set by this wonderful reissue. In addition to the brilliant performances (and compositions of course) by the leader, the album also features extensive contributions by the great and sadly departed John Taylor, whose performances herein are absolutely delightful, and for his many followers this album is an essential addition to his splendid legacy. The Mathewson / Levin rhythm section is also a great reminder of their contribution to the British Jazz scene, each in his very own way, and both also sadly not with us anymore, and a tribute to their memory. Overall, this is another “straight between the eyes” class of release, overdue but not forgotten gem, which now can now be discovered by new generations or all those less fortunate British Jazz lovers, who don’t own the original vinyl release. Just keep them coming you archive magicians!

Updated: 10/09/2023Posted: 10/09/2023

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