Jazz Articles about John Surman

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John Surman: Way Back When

by John Kelman
May 30, 2005

Musical developments rarely occur in a vacuum. While many look to Miles Davis and his associates in the late '60s as the progenitors of jazz-rock fusion, the truth is that a wide range of artists were exploring the juncture of these two styles, including New Zealander Mike Nock and his group Fourth Way, and American vibraphonist Mike Mainieri with albums including Journey Through an Electric Tube and White Elephant. In Britain, trumpeter Ian Carr's Nucleus and Soft Machine would merge ...

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John Surman: Rarum XIII: Selected Recordings

by Norman Weinstein
March 7, 2004

Here is a much needed career retrospective of John Surman, arguably the most impressive baritone saxophonist in the post-Mulligan era. ECM continues to treat its stars honorably by having them choose their own high points from their back catalog, and no one can fault Surman for being wildly eclectic. The problem is: the stellar horn man can be as devastatingly dull when overdubbing himself as he is dazzling in a band context. Five of the thirteen selections present ...

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John Surman: Free and Equal

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2003

Back in 1948, when John Surman was only four years old, the United Nations announced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - which, among other things, proclaimed all humans to be “free and equal." Surman takes this document and this idea as inspiration for his new collaboration with Jack DeJohnette and the ten-piece London Brass.

It's ironic, however, that the other concept of “free" (as in “free jazz") is not practiced here; neither is “equal" (in its usual ...

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John Surman: Free and Equal

by A. Henkin
March 11, 2003

ECM's jazz releases have attempted to bridge the gap between the refinement of classical music and the spontaneity of improvisation. Some efforts have been more successful than others, particularly when undertaken by musicians who have tried to rectify these concepts within their own musical careers. John Surman is such a musician, adding a long affiliation with big band music to the mix. Since the '60s, Surman has been a fixture in large format groups like the orchestras of Mike Gibbs, ...

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John Surman / Jack DeJohnette: Invisible Nature

by AAJ Staff
March 1, 2002

Reed player John Surman and drummer Jack DeJohnette go back a long way. More than three decades ago, these players met in London for regular jams; their paths have intersected regularly ever since. Their first record as a duo, The Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon, defined a spacious, open feel. Now back for more with Invisible Nature (with live performances recorded over two days in Europe), both players make use of electronics to expand the range and texture of their ...

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John Surman: Coruscating

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 2000

Consistently one of ECM's more prolific and experimental artists, John Surman has chosen to remain in Europe for the most part, and thus he remains unknown to many but the most determined jazz listeners and devotees of the baritone saxophone.Born in 1944, Surman, perhaps because of his separation from the American jazz mainstream, has develops a grace on his instrument that carries Gerry Mulligan's style a step further. By investigating electronics and British folk tradition, as well as ...

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John Surman: Coruscating

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 2000

Few would debate multi-reedman John Surman's significance to the Euro-jazz scene or perhaps modern jazz in general. And with his latest offering titled Coruscating, the distinguished artiste performs alongside longtime musical associate, bassist Chris Lawrence to compliment a string quartet specifically assembled for this occasion.

With this release, the band imaginatively parallels the perception of light, polarity and radiance with contrasting elements spoken through the musician's lucid yet at times, subdued dramatizations. Here, Surman renders spectral themes via his distinctive ...