To commemorate the 10th year since the passing of esteemed British jazz composer, bassist and bandleader Graham Collier, My Only Desire Records presents this 1975 recording of his previously unreleased suite 'British Conversations'.
The recording features lead soloists trumpeter Harry Beckett and guitarist Ed Speight, alongside The Swedish Radio Jazz Group - made up of the hottest players on the '70s Scandi jazz scene - including saxophonists Arne Domnérus, Claes Rosendahl and Lennart Åberg, trumpeter Jan Allan, pianist Bengt Hallberg, guitarist Rune Gustafsson and drummer Egil Johansen. Collier steers the band through the five-part suite that encompasses beautifully composed melodies, driving jazz rock and as many extremes as the British weather that inspired its name.
Remastered from the original tapes by Caspar Sutton-Jones @ Gearbox Records, 'British Conversations' is available as a limited edition (500 units worldwide) 2LP set housed in a gatefold sleeve and 'mini-LP' gatefold CD and all digital formats, with sleeve notes by Graham Collier biographer Duncan Heining.
Graham Collier (1937 - 2011) was one of the most accomplished, popular and collectable British jazz artists during the Brit-jazz heyday of the '60s and '70s, with his career of musically challenging yet hugely rewarding albums spanning five decades. His early LPs 'Deep Dark Blue Centre' (Deram, 1967), 'Down Another Road' (Fontana, 1969) and 'Darius' (Mosaics, 1974,) are rightly considered classics of the era.
Released in co-operation with the Collier estate, we hope this wonderful record leads to many new people discovering and enjoying the music of Graham Collier.
1. Red Sky in the Morning
2. Clear Moon
3. Halo Round the Sun
4. Red Sky at Night
5. Mackerel Sky
Graham Collier: conductor
Harry Beckett: trumpet, flugelhorn
Ed Speight: guitar
The Swedish Radio Jazz Group:
Arne Domnérus: alto saxophone, clarinet
Claes Rosendahl: tenor and alto saxophone, flute
Lennart Åberg: tenor and soprano saxophone, flute
Erik Nilsson: baritone saxophone
Americo Bellotto: trumpet, flugel horn
Bertil Lövgren: trumpet, flugel horn
Jan Allan: trumpet, alto horn
Håkan Nyquist : trumpet, flugel horn, French horn
Lars Olofsson: trombone
Sven Larsson: bass trombone, tuba
Rune Gustafsson: guitar
Bengt Hallberg: piano
Georg Riedel: double bass
Stefan Brolund: electric bass
Egil Johansen: drums
Recorded live in concert February 27th 1975 at Kulturhuset, Stockholm
Composed and arranged by Graham Collier
Commissioned by Sveriges Radio
