10/03/2023
Cracking review for Graham Collier - Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days '69 from Adam Baruch - The Soundtrack Of My Life "This is a superb historical document of the British Jazz scene and an excellent example of some of the most brilliant music created in Britain by the end of the 1960s, which was a true age of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."
Graham Collier – “Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days `69”
This is an archival live album by British Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader / educator Graham Collier, recorded by the Swedish Radio on August 24, 1969, which presents Collier’s sextet with trumpeter Harry Becket, trombonist Nick Evans, saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, pianist / oboist Karl Jenkins and drummer John Marshall. The album presents six original compositions, five by Collier and one by Jenkins, five of which appear on the album “Down Another Road”, 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 Heining.
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 Griffiths, My Only Desire 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 Marble”, which I released on my Jazzis 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Overall, this is a superb historical document of the British Jazz scene and an excellent example of some of the most brilliant music created in Britain by the end of the 1960s, which was a true age of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.
http://www.adambaruch.com/reviews_item.asp?item=107361
