British Conversations

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 comes with sleeve notes by Graham Collier biographer Duncan Heining.

Graham Collier (1937 - 2011) was one of the most accomplished, popular, and collectible 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.