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  • Deep Dark Blue Centre

    GCM1967

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    A classic British jazz record from 1967 featuring Harry Beckett or Kenny Wheeler (trumpet and flugelhorn), Dave Aaron (alto sax & flute), Mike Gibbs (trombone), Karl Jenkins (baritone sax & oboe), Philip Lee (guitar), John Marshall (drums) and Graham Collier (bass). Recorded at Jackson Studios, London, England, January 15, 18 & 24, 1967.

    First issued on LP by Deram, 1967, on CD by Disconforme, 2000, and on enhanced vinyl by whatmusic.com in 2001.

    "Deep Dark Blue Centre is a remarkable piece of work, much more then a historical curio, a valid and wholly satisfying musical experience … good pressing quality, excellent recorded sound and album sleeve art." - Audiophile.

    "Graham Collier’s Deep Dark Blue Centre has been around for forty years but it is as fresh as last week". - Doug Ramsey, Rifftides .

    "… the album’s undoubted influence can be heard in the later work of the French composer, and jazz pianist, Michel Legrand; of Mike Gibbs himself (after giving up the trombone for composing), Mike Westbrook, Anouar Brahem, Colin Towns, the orchestral and choral works of Karl Jenkins, and Paolo Damiani. It’s everywhere if you listen… And Graham Collier goes on, goes on re-writing the rules, taking, as he would say, the best of the past and mixing it with the best and most inventive players and sounds of the now - and that’s as good a definition of jazz as you’re likely to get." - Steve Newman, Jazz Groove.

  • Down Another Road

    GCM1969

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Harry Beckett (flugelhorn), Stan Sulzmann (alto & tenor sax), Nick Evans (trombone), Karl Jenkins (piano & oboe), John Marshall (drums), Graham Collier (bass) . Recorded in London, England, March 21 & 22, 1969.

    "Incredible work from one of England's greatest jazz talents! ... A razorsharp style that forged some of the freshest jazz ever to come out of the UK. This 1969 album is a masterpiece .... as tight and grooving as most of the best Blue Note sessions from the same time." -Dusty Groove

    "A record that deserves the highest praise... warmly recommended." - Charles Fox, Radio 3

    "Collier's stature as an original and imaginative composer is already entirely evident by this stage. The highly effective fusion of sophisticated written structures with fiery, free-influenced soloing has worn well." -Kenny Matheson, Jazzwise

    "A great classic." - Philippe Renaud, Impro Jazz

  • Songs for My Father

    GCM1970

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Harry Beckett (trumpet, flugelhorn), Alan Wakeman (tenor & soprano sax), Bob Sydor (tenor and alto sax), John Taylor (piano), John Webb (drums), Graham Collier (bass) plus on some tracks Alan Skidmore and Tony Roberts (tenor saxes), Derek Wadsworth (trombone) and Phil Lee (guitar). Recorded in London, England, 1970.

    An album which confirms Graham Collier's growing stature as an important jazz composer. - Charles Fox, Radio 3

    Unmistakably Collier. The group really communicates on an emotional level; it's impossible not to respond to the terrific heat with which this swinging outfit blows. - Jazz Journal

    This CD is a remarkable testament to the creativity and sheer guts of these young players, maintaining the highest level of creativity in adverse circumstances. A welcome and long overdue release. - Dave Gelly, The Gramophone

    The set dates from the heady days of 1970 and the soloists not only capture the exuberance of the era but interpret Graham's compositions with warmth and passion.- Pete Martin, Jazz UK

  • Mosaics

    GCM1971

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Harry Beckett (trumpet, flugelhorn), Alan Wakeman (tenor & soprano sax), Bob Sydor (alto & tenor sax), Geoff Castle (piano), John Webb (drums), Graham Collier (bass). Recorded live in The Torrington, North Finchley, London, December 1970.

    A wonderfully searching session - filled with warm McCoy Tyneresque modal moments, and searing post-Coltrane solos. All players are great, and the record crackles with the intensity of a classic session on Impulse! - Dusty Groove

    Graham Collier's most adventurous and successful album. An important and very enjoyable LP. - Alun Morgan, Jazz Journal

    An album full of good playing and also of promise for the future. - Richard Williams, Melody Maker

    A blend of invention and freedom-within-structure which remains highly satisfying. - Kenny Matheson, Jazzwise

    Mature and beautiful music. - Times Educational Supplement

  • Portraits

    GCM1972

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Graham Collier (bass); Dick Pearce (flugelhorn); Peter Hurt (alto sax); Ed Speight (guitar); Geoff Castle (piano); John Webb (drums). Recorded at RG jones Studios, Wimbledon, London, England on November 16 & 17, 1972.

    Collier has a record as a catalyst that is second to none in British modern jazz ... Portraits re-affirms Collier's feeling for Ellingtonian ideas but the whole record is redolent of the unique Collier spirit. - Barry McRae, Jazz Journal Immaculate.

    Portraits demonstrates anew Collier's prowess as writer and catalyst. - Coda

    One of the most progressive sessions by England's Graham Collier, and one that shows hints of the changes that were beginning to emerge in the British jazz scene at the time. - Dusty Groove

    A more laid-back, yet more challenging listen than any previous Collier outing, but it also rates as one of the best. - Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

  • Darius

    GCM1974

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Harry Beckett (trumpet and flugelhorn); Derek Wadsworth (trombone); Ed Speight (guitar); Geoff Castle (electric piano); [b]John Webb (drums) and Graham Collier (bass). Recorded live at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, Bedfordshire, England on March 13, 1974.

    "Darius typifies Collier's clarity and profundity and for my money it is the best piece he has written ... the most interesting and listenable of Britain's jazz composers." - Kevin Henriques, Financial Times

    "The finest album of one of the finest British composers today." - Jazz Forum

    "A fine example of Collier's ability to ply challenging harmonic movement and simple melody." - Bill Shoemaker, Jazz Review

    "Easily the finest of Collier's early works; it breathes and moves and changes shape, tone, and intent, and comes off as a master work of balance between composition and improvisation." - All Music Guide

    "A fantastic LP - very searching, but never too free." - Dusty Groove

  • Midnight Blue

    GCM1975

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Harry Beckett: trumpet, flugelhorn; Derek Wadsworth:trombone; Ed Speight: guitar; Roger Dean: piano; John Webb: drums; Graham Collier: bass. Recorded on February 17, 1975 in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England.

    Arguably the best British jazz album of the year. The music is free but always articulate and expressive. - Music Week

    An arranger who seems to have truly grasped the essence of his art. - Barry McRae, Jazz Journal

    Both a cogent return to the tried and true, and a pivotal transition album. - Bill Shoemaker, Jazz Review

    A beautiful little record that's as evocative as its title. - Dusty Groove

  • New Conditions

    GCM1976

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Composed by Graham Collier and featuring: Parts 1 & 2: Harry Beckett, Pete Duncan, Henry Lowther: trumpets; Roger Dean: piano; Part 3: Mike Page: alto sax; Part 4: John Mitchell: percussion; Parts 5 & 6: Alan Wakeman, Art Themen: soprano saxes; John Webb: drums; Part 7: Ed Speight: guitar; Part 8: Malcolm Griffith: trombone. Recorded June 2 & 3, 1976 in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England.

    We are astounded by its vivacity ... we will willingly place him alongside other great composers such as Hodier, Russell, Evans and the Jazz Composers' Orchestra. - Yves Thebault, Jazz (France)

    Extremely ambitious ... it fully illustrates Collier's use of space and underlines the point that in his music tension is built up by the juxtaposition and superimposing of solo parts and ensemble rather than any routine. - Barry McRae, Jazz Journal

    Nothing less than a giant step forward for Collier, as he broadened his palette with the inception of his twelve-piece ensemble, articulated an expansive new approach to form, and devised new methods of integrating composition and improvisation- Bill Shoemaker, Jazz Review

  • Symphony Of Scorpions

    GCM1977

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Symphony Of Scorpions: Art Themen (soprano sax, tenor sax); Harry Beckett, Henry Lowther, Peter Duncan (trumpets); Malcolm Griffiths (trombone); Tony Roberts, Mike Page (saxophones); Ed Speight (guitar); Roger Dean (piano); John Webb (drums); John Mitchell (percussion); Graham Collier (bass, leader). Recorded on November 7, 1976 at Ronnie Scott's Club, London, England. Forest Path To The Spring: Art Themen (soprano sax, tenor sax); Ed Speight (acoustic guitar). Recorded on March 10, 1977 in Bix, Oxfordshire, England.

    Collier's most ambitious recorded composition, clearly another of his major works. - Kevin Henriques, Financial Times

    A joint triumph for composer Graham Collier and one of our most outstanding jazzmen, Art Themen. - Barry McRae, Jazz Journal

    Compelling ... it has retained its raw power for more than 20 years. - Bill Shoemaker, Jazz Review

    The sparse textures and concentration on solo instrumentation rather than ensemble performance give the piece an airy, indeterminate feel, just as Lowry himself might have ordained. - Simon Adams, Jazz Journal International

  • The Day of the Dead

    GCM1978

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Music based on the works of Malcolm Lowry, narrated by John Carbery and performed by Alan Wakeman (tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet); Art Themen (tenor sax, soprano sax); Roger Dean (acoustic piano, electric piano); Ed Speight (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Roy Babbington (acoustic bass, electric bass); Ashley Brown (drums, percussion); Alan Jackson (drums); Malcolm Griffiths (trombone); Mike Page (alto sax, soprano sax, flute); Henry Lowther, Harry Beckett, Peter Duncan (trumpet, flugelhorn); Graham Collier (director). Recorded and mixed in March and April, 1978 in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England.

    One of the best and most original British jazz records of 1978. ... An immensely rewarding experience which deserves the listener's attention. - Kevin Henriques, Jazz Forum

    Extremely successful ... A record that deserves to be widely heard on the strength of all of its parts. - Barry McRae, Jazz Journal

    A considerable work, widening the frontiers of jazz and making many earlier experiments with music and the spoken word sound like dilettante dabbling. - Alan Forrest, The Financial Times

    Jazz and poetry have often been combined but rarely as successfully as this. - Simon Adams Jazz Journal International

  • Something British Made In Hong Kong

    GCM1985

    Artist: Graham Collier Music

    Label: Jazz Continuum

    Roger Dean: piano, DX7 synthesizer; Ed Speight: guitar; Geoff Warren: soprano sax, alto sax, flute, alto flute; Paul Bridge: bass; Ashley Brown: drums, percussion; Graham Collier: keyboards. Recorded live in Hong Kong, December 1985.

    Confirms his position as one of Britain's most adventurous jazz composers ... Collier's unforced eclecticism and the excellent musicianship by all concerned provide a consistently melodic invention. Bugger the berets; Collier and Co transcend categories. - Geoff Andrew, Time Out

    He approaches the synthesiser not as a keyboard player might but as a composer and orchestrator, using it to extend the palette on which he places the improvising and textural resources of the musicians. - Simon Adams, Jazz Journal

    Collier has proven to be an inventive and underrated jazz figure. - Bill Meredith, Jazziz magazine