Something British Made in Hong Kong is a six-part suite composed for the Graham Collier Sextet's Far East tour in 1985. It was recorded there, and was his first recorded outing since 1976. If only the fates had been kinder, and his synthesizer didn't sound so cheesy. Used mainly as a palette-expanding device,
Collier's own rudimentary playing of the instrument leaves much to be desired. In addition, pianist Roger Dean also uses a synth as a complement to his piano. With Ed Speight's electric guitar, the band sounds almost like a prog rock outfit playing jazz. Geoff Warren's saxophones lend weight, as does Paul Bridge's double bassing, but Ashley Brown's drumming comes out of "Fusion 101." Only on "Whirligig," do we get anything approaching
Collier's masterful writing aplomb, or inspired improvising from Speight and Warren.This album is a mess, full of meandering twists and turns that reveal just how completely
Collier had lost his way in the previous decade. Oh yes, and the sound is muddy, almost atrocious.~ Thom Jurek