Jazz Articles about John Surman

like 1

John Surman: The Spaces in Between

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 21, 2007

Per questa sua ultima fatica discografica, John Surman sceglie una formazione cameristica: il fido Chris Laurence al contrabbasso, ed un quartetto d'archi. Una configurazione strumentale già sperimentata qualche anno addietro in Coruscating (registrato sempre per l'ECM nel 1999), e che permette al sassofonista inglese di dare spazio alla sua vena meno jazzistica, quella più “classica” ed intimista. Quella, per intenderci, che ha sempre caratterizzato certe sue sperimentazioni in solo con l'ausilio dell'elettronica. In scaletta, troviamo prevalentemente brani già pubblicati e ...

like 368

John Surman: How Many Clouds Can You See?

by John Kelman
February 21, 2007

While woodwind multi-instrumentalist John Surman's eponymous debut was a strange mixture of everything from free improvisation to calypso, his second date, 1970's How Many Clouds Can You See?, is a much more focused affair. Surman clearly references one of his roots, John Coltrane, albeit on an instrument that the legendary saxophonist never played.

Surman plays bass clarinet and soprano saxophone, but the baritone has always been his main axe. Here he uses it to put a personal spin on music ...

like 204

John Surman / John Warren: Tales of the Algonquin

by Marc Medwin
June 17, 2006

Much was in the air in early-'70s British music, where various configurations explored the fringes of tradition while maintaining allegiance to fixed forms. Tales of the Algonquin exemplifies the times perfectly. One complaint: the audio is only passable. (But if this transfer was taken from an LP, the stunted sound is understandable.)In any case, John Warren's music more than compensates for any sonic flaws. “With Terry's Help slides and swells in, regal but anticipatory, soon kicking into a ...

like 329

John Surman/John Warren: Tales of the Algonquin

by John Kelman
August 6, 2005

As in most European countries, jazz in Britain prior to the '60s was largely a copycat of its American counterparts. But with the emergence of artists like trumpeters Harry Beckett and Kenny Wheeler, bassists Graham Collier and Harry Miller, and saxophonists Stan Sulzmann and Alan Skidmore, a very specific yet remarkably diverse complexion began to emerge. From his emergence in the mid-'60s to 1971, baritone/soprano saxophonist John Surman appeared on nearly forty recordings, including some that would ultimately ...

like 175

John Surman: Way Back When

by Glenn Astarita
June 17, 2005

I played this disc before reading the press kit and liners, and was wondering why it took so long for a recording of strikingly good sound quality to be reissued 35 years after the fact. And of course, British saxophonist/composer John Surman's praiseworthy legacy is well-documented. But after finally perusing the press release, it all made sense: This was a jam session recorded prior to Surman's exit from London, signaling in the advent of the Trio, featuring bassist Barre Phillips ...

like 186

John Surman: Way Back When

by AAJ Staff
June 4, 2005

Most listeners know John Surman for his spacious baritone and soprano saxophone work on around thirty ECM releases, dating back to his appearance on Barre Phillips' Mountainscapes (1976) and his own label debut, Upon Reflection (1979). Surman's saxophone playing tends to be open, articulate, and lyrical, and he's usually at his strongest in acoustic settings. Check out John Abercrombie's quartet record November (1993) for an excellent sample.

The recently discovered Way Back When dates back to 1969, right before Surman ...

like 146

John Surman: Way Back When

by Jerry D'Souza
June 2, 2005

Britain in the sixties was a musical maelstrom. Pop music was witnessing some exciting changes, and so was jazz. While American musicians were influential during this period, a large number of British musicians were beginning to cast their own voices and give the music new extensions in ideas and approaches. John Surman was one of them.

Surman is a multi-instrumentalist who is particular adept on the baritone and soprano saxophones, both of which are his instruments on this ...