GRAHAM COLLIER — Symphony of Scorpions (review)

GRAHAM COLLIER — Symphony of Scorpions album cover Live album · 1977 · Progressive Big Band Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
Well clearly someone like Collier always thrived on progression, and by the time of the mid-70’s, he was definitely advancing into dissonant territory, thus taking the gamble of losing whatever audience back-up he might have had back then. There is no doubt that this very ambitious Symphony Of Scorpions was a huge risk for probably minimal rewards, other than personal satisfaction and respect of peers, which of course is already a good start. Despite the word “symphony”, I’d advise those people we call “symph weenies” to stay away from this kind of album, because it is exactly what they probably hate, despite the ambition or pretension of the works at aim. Even in terms of jazz music, the word of symphony might be a tad usurped, because these Scorpion are completely unable to remain in tune and in “standard” scales. Sooo you’ve understood that the main body of work is somewhat (that can be euphemism) dissonant, and in some parts can sound downright atonal. In terms of collabs, you’ll find the usual suspects like Lowther, Themen, Speight, Beckett and Roger Dean (not the symph weenie illustrator), but one can regret the absence of Marshall (whose Soft sticks are caught in a Machine), even if he’s well replaced by Webb.

I’d like to reassure the afore-mentioned “weenies” that if they’ve flown to more melodic pasture, this bradwurst (yours truly) sometimes considering also the escape in the more difficult moments, but of course, just after suffering the thunderstorm, there is a brilliant sun interval, which convinces me to hang on. The worst part is that we’re having brilliant Morricone-Mangione trumpet parts that are accompanied by trombone and tuba farts (ooooops, no tuba here ;o))), which you’ll agree can be fun at the first listen, but annoying by the fifth. After the almost 42-mins monster comes a calm and pastoral Forest Path To The Spring, which is a lot more weenie-like.

A rather difficult album (for yours truly anyway), one that I’ll rent every second decade because I ran out of audio inspiration, sooo unless you’re into the dark force of semi-dissonant compositions, you’d better approach this Scorpion carefu
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