Record Reviews

MIKE WESTBROOK ~ LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING: CITADEL / ROOM 315 SWEDEN `74 MY ONLY DESIRE 003 (Barcode: 5052442016687) ~ UK ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1974 Released: 2020 This is an archival album, which finally brings back to life the original live recording of the “Citadel / Room 315Find albums with this title” suite by British pianist / composer / bandleader Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Swedish Radio Jazz GroupFind albums by this artist featuring Westbrook on electric piano and British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist as the guest soloist. A studio version of the suite was recorded a year later by an all British lineup and released on RCAFind albums on this label. The album presents eleven tracks, all composed and arranged by Westbrook. The recording quality is absolutely marvelous. The sixteen members strong Swedish Radio Jazz Group included some of the finest Swedish / European musicians active at the time, including saxophonists Arne DomnerusFind albums by this artist and Lennart AbergFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Bertil LovgrenFind albums by this artist, pianist Bengt HallbergFind albums by this artist and others. A comparison with the British recording version, which of course is well known to all Westbrook followers, shows several distinct differences, especially as far as the overall sound, which here is somewhat more “traditional” and closer to the American Big Band tradition, which is not surprising considering the years-long Swedish Jazz tradition, very closely linked to the American tradition and the fact that many prominent American Jazz musicians lived in Sweden at the time. The British version, recorded by the young generation of musicians, who revolutionized the local Jazz scene completely and managed to create a distinct new Jazz dialect, is somewhat more daring and “subversive”, in the best possible way of course. Kudos to My Only DesireFind albums on this label Records for releasing this fabulous piece of music, which was dormant for so many years. All British Jazz fans are grateful, of course! Overall, this is a wonderful piece of British Jazz history, which deserves to be heard today, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power of expression and aesthetic values, fulfilling a missing link that many Westbrook fans can now consider as resolved. An absolute must have!

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 12/03/2022

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GRAHAM COLLIER ~ BRITISH CONVERSATIONS MY ONLY DESIRE 004 (Barcode: 5052442020400) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1975 Released: 2021 This is an archival album, which presents a previously unreleased suite by British Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader Graham CollierFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of modern British Jazz. This is a live recording of the suite from 1975 with the Swedish Radio Jazz GroupFind albums by this artist featuring Collier as conductor and British trumpeter Harry BeckettFind albums by this artist and guitarist Ed SpeightFind albums by this artist, both regular members of his groups, as guest soloist. The album presents five tracks, all composed and arranged by Collier. The recording quality is excellent. The fifteen members strong Swedish Radio Jazz Group included some of the finest Swedish / European musicians active at the time, including saxophonists Arne DomnerusFind albums by this artist and Lennart AbergFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Bertil LovgrenFind albums by this artist, pianist Bengt HallbergFind albums by this artist and others. The music follows the modus operandi of Collier’s compositional concepts, which produced several Jazz suites over time. The music is based on highly melodic themes, with characteristic Collier’s love of the Blues and modern harmony, which in this case are beautifully and highly imaginatively arranged for a Big Band, rather than the more common arrangements for his small groups. There is plenty of superb soloing, both by the two Brits and the local Swedes. Especially interesting are the guitar solos, which emphasize the great talent of Speight, who is often otherwise overlooked, despite being certainly one of the most unique British guitar players. I remember talking to Graham about this recording at the time and in time completely forgot about it. Seeing it released was a most pleasant surprise, like finding a lost treasure. The album includes informative liner notes by Duncan HeiningFind albums by this artist, which offers a historical perspective of Collier’s work. Kudos to Jon GriffithsFind albums by this artist, the owner of My Only DesireFind albums on this label Records, for releasing this fabulous piece of music, which was dormant for so many years. This is a second album, which documents the collaboration between British Jazz musicians with the Swedish Radio Jazz Group, following the fabulous Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist’s “Love And Understanding: Citadel / Room 315 Sweden `74Find albums with this title” album released a year earlier. Hopefully more of such gems will follow. All British Jazz fans are grateful, of course! Overall, this is a wonderful piece of British Jazz history, which deserves to be heard today, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power of expression and aesthetic values, fulfilling a missing link that many Collier fans can now consider as resolved. An absolute must have!

Updated: 10/03/2023Posted: 13/05/2022

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GRAHAM COLLIER ~ DOWN ANOTHER ROAD @ STOCKHOLM JAZZ DAYS `69 MY ONLY DESIRE 005 (Barcode: 5052442022411) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2023 This is an archival live album by British Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader / educator Graham CollierFind albums by this artist, recorded by the Swedish Radio on August 24, 1969, which presents Collier’s sextet with trumpeter Harry BecketFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nick EvansFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, pianist / oboist Karl JenkinsFind albums by this artist and drummer John MarshallFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, five by Collier and one by Jenkins, five of which appear on the album “Down Another RoadFind albums with this title”, released a few months earlier. The remaining composition (“Burblings For Bob”) makes here its only appearance on record. The album includes informative liner notes by Collier’s biographer Duncan HeiningFind albums by this artist. Although this was only the second album by Collier, his stylistic direction was already firmly set and represented the new British Jazz, which developed quite independently form the American Jazz tradition. Collier was one of the pioneers of the new direction, which embraced ensemble approach, Free Improvisation in parallel to clearly defined melodic themes, advanced polyrhythmic drumming and some World Music influences. This live recording is quite different in many aspects from the studio recording, and as such is of course invaluable. And of course hearing Graham’s voice introducing the tunes touches many personal memories. The sound quality is excellent and the cooperation between Jon GriffithsFind albums by this artist, My Only DesireFind albums on this label label owner, and the Swedish Radio, is a blessing and offers the British Jazz fans already the third album of previously unheard material, which is absolutely fabulous. Hopefully more such releases will follow suit. A small personal note: one of the tracks present here, called “Aberdeen Angus”, is also present on the Graham Collier’s album “Adam`s MarbleFind albums with this title”, which I released on my JazzisFind albums on this label Records label in 1995, and which is completely different from the version presented here. Overall, this is a superb historical document of the British Jazz scene and an excellent example of some of the most brilliant music created in Britain by the end of the 1960s, which was a true age of discovery and explosive development. Absolutely essential to all British Jazz enthusiasts and record collectors.

Updated: 10/03/2023Posted: 10/03/2023

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MICHAEL GARRICK ~ LATE AUTUMN SUNSHINE MY ONLY DESIRE 008 (Barcode: 5052442029557) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2025 This is an archive live album by British pianist / composer / bandleader Michael GarrickFind albums by this artist, recorded for broadcasts by the BBC. The album presents eight tracks, recorded five years apart during two sessions, each presenting four tracks. The first session from 1973 features Garrick leading a sextet with vocalist Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Art ThemenFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave GreenFind albums by this artist and drummer Trevor TomkinsFind albums by this artist. The second session from 1978 features Garrick leading an octet with Winstone, Lowther, trombonist David HorlerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Tony CoeFind albums by this artist and Alan WakemanFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist and drummer John MarshallFind albums by this artist, in short the crème de la crème of the British Jazz scene in the 1970s. All the tracks are original compositions by Garrick, one of which includes lyrics by Winstone. Two of the tracks were never previously available in any other recorded version, which of course makes them especially unique for Garrick’s completists (like your truly). Of course the entire materiel is previously unreleased. As usual for BBC recordings, the sound quality is absolutely spotless. The music is, as expected, absolutely Godly, which considering Garrick’s extraordinary songweaving capabilities and the level of the musicians involved, is not surprising. Although based on solid written themes, it offers a lot of Freedom and improvisation possibilities, which at times is pretty close to Free Jazz, but never quite crossing over. A separate chapter could be written about Winstone’s marvelous contributions, but of course I have already written about her great talent repeatedly, including the reviews of the albums, on which some of this music was released originally, like “TroppoFind albums with this title”, where two of the tracks from the first session originate from. It is especially gratifying to see this particular album released, since Garrick somehow never really achieved the recognition of his extraordinary talent during his lifetime, and struggled to continue and create brilliant music by running his own label “Jazz AcademyFind albums on this label”, when releasing Jazz albums by major record companies fell out of grace and profit. For me he always was one of the greatest heroes of the British Jazz scene, a man of great talent and extraordinary wit. Sadly, I had only met him in person sporadically and we did correspond hectically. His death, way to early (in 2011) saddened me greatly and my only solace is the fact that I have all his recorded material in my collection. Overall, this is a rare jewel of British Jazz history, which is suddenly and unexpectedly available thanks to the dedication of Jon GriffithsFind albums by this artist of the My Only DesireFind albums on this label label, who has a natural gift of surprising us with such marvels, for which we are, as usual, grateful.

Updated: 04/01/2026Posted: 03/01/2026

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