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John Surman

Born in Tavistock, Devon in 1944, composer/multi-instrumentalist John Surman is one of the key figures in a generation of European musicians who have crucially expanded the international horizons of jazz during the past thirty years or so. Long acknowledged as an improviser of world class, Surman has also composed a body of work which extends far beyond the normal range of the jazz repertoire.

Already, by the late 60s, it was clear that Surman was a phenomenon. He started out as a teenager playing the music of fellow Devonian Mike Westbrook, and then amazed the London establishment with displays of extravagant instrumental proficiency combined with a passionate, rumbustious imagination.

As a soloist, Surman's early career took shape in the melting pot that produced a number of fine British musicians during the 60s. As well as his association with Westbrook, there was varied experience with the blues of Alexis Korner, hard bop with Ronnie Scott’s octet, mainstream jazz with Humphrey Lyttleton, South African township influences with the Brotherhood of Breath and jazz-rock with John McLaughlin. During this period he forged lasting relationships with composer John Warren, pianist John Taylor and bassist Dave Holland, with whom he co-led an exciting trio featured on his first album for Deram ‘John Surman’. Surman also lead his own Octet in 1968 and performed in the big band directed by Mike Gibbs, but the formation of The Trio, in 1969, can be seen as a watershed in terms of his international profile. This unit, with expatriate Americans Barre Phillips (bass) and the late Stu Martin (drums) became one of the busiest and musically vital groups on the European circuit.

Surman also featured (with Karin Krog) in the European DownBeat pollwinners group that toured Japan in 1970, further enhancing his reputation on the international front.

By the mid-seventies, Surman had produced a couple of important albums - the solo project Westering Home, and Morning Glory, with Terje Rypdal , John Marshall, Chris Laurence, Malcolm Griffiths and John Taylor.

The Trio SOS, with Alan Skidmore and Mike Osborne proved another ground breaking project, combining electronics with the dynamic soloing of three fine saxophonists.

He had also begun a long-term collaboration with the American choreographer/dancer Carolyn Carlson, and was based at the Paris Opera with her company for some time.

In 1978, he recorded in duo both with Stan Tracey (Sonatinas) and also the Norwegian singer Karin Krog (Cloudline Blue). In addition he toured and recorded with the quartet of bassist Miroslav Vitous until 1982. His debut solo album, ‘Upon Reflection’ was recorded for ECM Records in 1979, launching a fruitful relationship with the company that continues to the present day, and includes four further solo records. Other albums include ‘Such Winters Of Memory’, with Karin Krog and Pierre Favre; and the 5-star Down Beat-rated ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Simon Simon ‘ with Jack DeJohnette.

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10
Album Review

John Surman: Words Unspoken

Read "Words Unspoken" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


Englishman John Surman has been one of jazz's most important reedmen since his debut album on the progressive Deram label in 1969. From the start, on classic albums such as John McLaughlin's Extrapolation, Surman displayed a unique voice on the baritone sax, soprano sax, and bass clarinet, sometimes adding electronics to the mix. Since his first appearance on Manfred Eicher's groundbreaking ECM label in 1976, Surman has forged an idiosyncratic path, releasing solo, duo, and quartet albums, transcultural collaborations (such ...

15
Album Review

John Surman: Words Unspoken

Read "Words Unspoken" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Hypnotic and many of its antonyms--stimulating, arousing, reviving--are old school hyperbole which very often separates the hack from the veteran of critical science. But sometimes those everyday words are exactly what need to be said to tell of music unlike everyday and most others. Words Unspoken is just that. Blowing free and unhindered since 1966, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Terje Rypdal, Archie Shepp, Bill Frisell and John McLaughlin, British multi-reedist John Surman needs no lengthy introduction. He just ...

Live Review

ONJGT Synthesis e John Surman/Vigleik Storaas alla Casa del Jazz

Read "ONJGT Synthesis e John Surman/Vigleik Storaas alla Casa del Jazz" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


ONJGT Synthesis e John Surman/Vigleik Storas Casa del Jazz Roma 5.7.2023 Anche quest'anno la Casa del Jazz di Roma ha proposto un programma di concerti estivi di tutto rispetto, con un cartellone ricco di eventi e nomi importanti, insieme a diversi altri meno famosi ma non meno interessanti. È il caso della doppia serata del 5 Luglio, che unisce il grande John Surman, in duo col pianista norvegese Vigleik Storas, con una selezione di ...

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Extended Analysis

A Supreme Love

Read "A Supreme Love" reviewed by Duncan Heining


Alan Skidmore is one of the finest saxophonists to come out of the United Kingdom, Europe or indeed anywhere. In fact, it was hearing Skidmore's tenor solo on “Have You Heard?" from John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (Decca, 1966) that encouraged a young Michael Brecker to take up the instrument. Skidmore had also served his apprenticeship with blues singer Alexis Kornerin the sixties and by the end of the decade was equally well-versed in the blues and in the ...

Album Review

Mike Westbrook Concert Band: Marching Song Volumes 1 & 2 Plus Bonus Tracks

Read "Marching Song Volumes 1 & 2 Plus Bonus Tracks" reviewed by Maurizio Comandini


Mike Westbrook, pianista e soprattutto direttore di orchestra, è nato il 21 marzo del 1936 a High Wycombe, 50 chilometri a nord-ovest di Londra. Dapprima tentato dalla Art School di Plymouth, si dedica poi con decisione alla musica, dalla fine degli anni cinquanta. Nel 1958 forma la sua prima band per la quale gli capita di reclutare il sedicenne John Surman, giovane talento emergente che stava terminando il suo percorso scolastico. Quattro anni dopo Westbrook si sposta a Londra per ...

Album Review

John McLaughlin: Where Fortune Smiles

Read "Where Fortune Smiles" reviewed by Maurizio Comandini


L'invito che Tony Williams fece a John McLaughlin, chiamandolo a New York per far partire l'intensa avventura musicale denominata 'Tony Williams Lifetime,' arrivò proprio quando lo stesso McLaughlin aveva magicamente trovato un suo punto di equilibro. Dopo aver lasciato intravedere interessanti bagliori nell'eccellente disco Things We Like di Jack Bruce (registrato a Londra a fine agosto del 1968, con Dick Heckstall-Smith ai saxofoni e Jon Hiseman alla batteria) il suo talento esplose nel bellissimo album di esordio Extrapolation, registrato a ...

Live Review

Area M - Playing John Surman

Read "Area M - Playing John Surman" reviewed by Paolo Peviani


Orchestra Nazionale Jazz dei Conservatori Italiani Stagione Musicale Area M--Città Studi Sound Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Milano 13.10.2018 John Surman al Conservatorio di Milano. La memoria corre ad un inverno di una trentina d'anni fa. All'unica occasione in cui avevo avuto modo di ascoltare il sassofonista inglese dal vivo. Era un concerto per solo sax soprano ed elettronica. Curiosamente, anche allora in Conservatorio. Ho dunque molto apprezzato l'iniziativa della ...

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158

Recording

John Surman - Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop - April 1969 (Cuneiform, 2011)

John Surman - Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop - April 1969 (Cuneiform, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Saxophonist and composer John Surman was at the beginning of a lengthy and successful career when this was taped with the star-studded British group which had the likes of Ronnie Scott, Kenny Wheeler and Mike Osbourne on board. The big band frames the music nicely, and Surman is featured as a soloist, playing soprano and baritone saxophone, and getting extensive solo space on four of the five tracks. “Mayflower" opens the album nicely with some blazing pinched soprano saxophone revolving ...

139

Radio

The Jazz Session #102: John Surman

The Jazz Session #102: John Surman

Source: Michael Ricci

John Surman is a composer with a broad and multi-hued musical palette. Hes written for everything from solo saxophone to string quartet to choir with organ to contemporary dance. On Brewster's Rooster (ECM, 2009), Surman reunites with longtime musical partners Jack DeJohnette and John Abercrombie (accompanied by bassist Drew Gress) for a quartet album that explores group interplay. In this interview, Surman talks about finding a place in his music for his disparate influences; why he writes for many types ...

204

Interview

Legendary British Saxophonist John Surman Interviewed at AAJ

Legendary British Saxophonist John Surman Interviewed at AAJ

Source: ECM Records

It's increasingly risky to be a musician on the road. When British saxophonist John Surman was traveling from his home in Oslo, Norway, to New York City in September, 2007 for a recording session, he almost lost his baritone saxophone to the airlines. “It is a nightmare traveling now," says Surman, “and hardly a tour goes by without something going missing, and of course there's the damage problem. Nowadays you get one handbag, which of course is my soprano, so ...

176

Recording

John Surman - New CD and Performances in the USA

John Surman - New CD and Performances in the USA

Source: ECM Records

On August 4th ECM released Brewster's Rooster a powerful, exciting, real “jazz" album, from the great British horn-player John Surman. Soulful ballads, hard-driving pieces and fiery improvisations show Surman at the top of his creative form on baritone and soprano saxophones, surrounded by an all-star cast featuring John Abercrombie, Drew Gress and Jack DeJohnette. Surman, making a rare US appearance, will perform with this quartet later in the month. Mark these dates! August 27 - 29 in Washington DC, at ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Words Unspoken

ECM Records
2024

buy

A Supreme Love

Confront Recordings
2023

buy

Soho Scene '66 and...

Rhythm & Blues Records
2020

buy

Invisible Threads

ECM Records
2018

buy

Where Fortune Smiles

Esoteric Recordings
2017

buy

Marching Song Volumes...

Turtle Records
2017

buy

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