Graham Collier – Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days ’69
My Only Desire Records, MOD005 / MOD005CD
Available 24th February 2023 on limited edition 2-LP vinyl, CD + all digital platforms
My Only Desire Records presents this previously unreleased recording of bassist/composer Graham Collier‘s seminal British jazz album Down Another Road recorded live in 1969 at Stockholm’s Jazz Day festival, his all-star sextet includes jazz heavyweights Harry Beckett, Stan Sulzmann, Karl Jenkins and John Marshall.
Since it’s release in 1969 on Fontana, Down Another Road has become a cornerstone of British jazz, with the LP now a much sought-after rarity that regularly exchanges hands for over £200. It’s considered the revered composer Collier’s greatest album by many of its fans, thanks to its highly melodic, almost pop-like themes and irresistible ’60s groove, spurred on by the on-point drumming of Soft Machine/Nucleus drummer John Marshall.
To make Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days ’69 even more special, the abstract track “Danish Blue” has been replaced by the similarly epic free jazz composition “Burblings for Bob”, which is released here for the first time. All the other tracks that everyone loves are present and correct – “Lullaby for a Lonely Child”, “Aberdeen Angus”, “Molewrench” etc. but with a rawer live feel to them, longer arrangements and more soloing – with the band in scintillating form.
Remastered from the original tapes by Caspar Sutton-Jones @ Gearbox Records, Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days ’69 is available as a limited edition 2LP set housed in a gatefold sleeve and ‘mini-LP’ gatefold CD, with sleeve notes by Graham Collier biographer Duncan Heining.
Graham Collier: double bass
Harry Beckett: trumpet, flugelhorn
Nick Evans: trombone
Stan Sulzmann: tenor and alto saxophone
Karl Jenkins: oboe, piano
John Marshall: drums
Press Quotes:
“A superlative take on one of Collier’s best-loved albums…Album highlights Lullaby for a Lonely Child and Aberdeen Angus sound possibly yet more vital in a live setting. A real find.” – ★★★★ Record Collector
“This recording exemplifies much that was great about this beloved era of Brit jazz. Taking its cues from the US, Collier’s bright, friendly compositions are rendered more joyous by the immediacy, intimacy and physicality offered by this crack sextet.” – ★★★★ UK Vibe
“Captures the album live with, some incredible playing from trumpeter Harry Beckett. It’s worth seeking out the original studio recording first, then diving into this live set for contrast.” – ★★★★ Shindig! Magazine
“The interest of this album is, of course, to hear how the band respond to a live performance, in contrast to the studio environment, with the opportunity of a fresh take if required. If anything, the ensemble are more animated providing an excellent representation of Collier’s music for Scandinavian audiences, most of whom would hear this on the radio.” – ★★★★ Jazzwise
“The phrase ‘Mastered and cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones at Gearbox’ is like a beacon for collectors, guaranteeing that sonic delights lurk within. Such is the case for the latest release from niche jazz historians My Only Desire Records…a superb live recording.” – Clash Magazine
“A terrific album, well recorded by Sveriges Radio, lovingly curated by My Only Desire Records and with a sparkling remaster by Casper Sutton-Jones from the audiophile Gearbox label. It sounds like it could have been recorded in 2023, which is fitting for such timeless music.” – All About Jazz
“The live recording is excellent, clear as a bell, and the applause gives it atmosphere without being obtrusive. A fine release that typifies a memorable chapter in British jazz.” – Jazz Journal
“The new live album is a gem – hardly surprising given the musicians involved…The tracks compare very well with their studio counterparts; as one might expect, the live Stockholm set tends to be a little freer, a little more fiery, perhaps a little funkier, but the ensemble playing is as tightly coordinated as one could wish.” – Notes and Observations by Geoff Andrew
“For those not familiar with the music of Graham Collier, this is a great place to start. For those who were there to follow the music as it unfolded here is another gem to add to the collection.” – Jazz Views
“The leader’s curiously low-key introductions contrast sharply with the dazzling expositions which follow – the brilliant sound quality deftly capturing the delights of the music’s multi-layered interplay.” – The Beat Magazine
“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.” – Adam Baruch – The Soundtrack of My Life
“Eight minutes into the first tune and already this group has shown more imagination than many achieve across a full album.” – Bebop Spoken Here