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John Surman

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John Surman
Surman performing in Birdland, 2 September 2009
Surman performing in Birdland, 2 September 2009
Background information
Birth nameJohn Douglas Surman
Born (1944-08-30) 30 August 1944 (age 79)
Tavistock, Devon, England
GenresJazz avant-garde, free jazz, modal jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)Baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, synthesizer
Years active1960s–present
LabelsDeram, Dawn, ECM
Websitewww.johnsurman.com

John Douglas Surman (born 30 August 1944)[1] is an English jazz saxophone, clarinet, and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music. He has composed and performed music for dance performances and film soundtracks.[2]

Life and career

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John Surman at the 2017 Oslo Jazz Festival

Surman was born in Tavistock, Devon, England.[1] He initially gained recognition playing baritone saxophone in the Mike Westbrook Band in the mid-1960s,[1] and was soon heard regularly playing soprano saxophone and bass clarinet as well.[2] His first playing issued on a record was with the Peter Lemer Quintet in 1966. After further recordings and performances with jazz bandleaders Mike Westbrook and Graham Collier and blues-rock musician Alexis Korner,[3] he made the first record under his own name in 1968.

In 1969, he founded The Trio along with two expatriate American musicians, bassist Barre Phillips and drummer Stu Martin.[4] In the mid-1970s, he founded one of the earliest all-saxophone jazz groups, S.O.S., along with alto saxophonist Mike Osborne and tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore.[1] During this early period, he also recorded with (among others) saxophonist Ronnie Scott, guitarist John McLaughlin, bandleader Michael Gibbs, trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, and pianist Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath.[5]

By 1972, he had begun experimenting with synthesizers. That year he recorded Westering Home, the first of several solo projects on which he played all parts himself via overdubbing. He recorded his final album with Mike Westbrook, Citadel/Room 315 in 1975.[2]

Many of the musical relationships he established during the 1970s continued for decades. These include a quartet with pianist John Taylor, bassist Chris Laurence, and drummer John Marshall; duets and other projects with Norwegian singer Karin Krog (Surman's long-term partner);[6] and duets and other projects with American drummer/pianist Jack DeJohnette.[2]

His relationship with ECM Records has also been continuous from the late 1970s to the present, as Surman has recorded prolifically for the label playing bass clarinet, recorders, soprano and baritone saxophones and using synthesisers, both solo and with a wide range of other musicians.[1]

He was featured in a profile on composer Graham Collier in the 1985 Channel 4 documentary 'Hoarded Dreams' [7]

Since the 1990s, he has composed several suites of music that feature his playing in unusual contexts, including with church organ and chorus (Proverbs and Songs, 1996); with a classical string quintet (Coruscating); and with the London Brass and Jack DeJohnette (Free and Equal, 2001). He has also played in a unique trio with Tunisian oud-player Anouar Brahem and bassist Dave Holland (Thimar, 1997); has performed the songs of John Dowland with singer John Potter formerly of the Hilliard Ensemble; and made contributions to the drum and bass album Disappeared by Spring Heel Jack.

Other musicians he has worked with include bassist Miroslav Vitouš, bandleader Gil Evans, pianist Paul Bley and Vigleik Storaas, saxophonist (and composer) John Warren, guitarists Terje Rypdal and John Abercrombie and trumpeter Tomasz Stańko.

His latest musical endeavour is "Words Unspoken", which was released on ECM Records in February 2024 to universal critical acclaim, receiving a glowing five star write-up in BBC Music Magazine & widespread radio play across Europe and North America. This bassless quartet features ECM stalwart Thomas Strønen on drums as well as British rising star Rob Luft on guitar & electronics.

Awards and honors

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  • 1999: Spellemannprisen in the category Jazz, with Karin Krog for the album Bluesand
  • 2013: Spellemannprisen in the category Jazz, with Karin Krog for the album Songs About This and That

Discography

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As leader

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As sideman

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With Paul Bley

With Graham Collier

With Christine Collister

  • 1998 The Dark Gift of Time (Fledg'ling)
  • 2000 Songbird
  • 2001 An Equal Love

With Michael Gibbs

  • 1970 Michael Gibbs (Deram)
  • 1971 Tanglewood 63 (Deram)
  • 2018 Festival 69 (Turtle)

With Per Husby

  • 1987 Your Eyes
  • 1990 Dedications (Hot Club)

With Alexis Korner

With Karin Krog

  • 1986 Freestyle (Odin)
  • 2002 Raindrops, Raindrops
  • 2010 Folkways (Meantime)

With Chris McGregor

With John McLaughlin

With Mike Osborne and Alan Skidmore

  • 1972 Shapes
  • 1974 Looking for the Next One
  • 1975 SOS (Ogun)

With Barre Phillips

With John Potter

  • 1999 In Darkness Let Me Dwell (ECM)
  • 2003 Care-Charming Sleep (ECM)
  • 2008 Romaria
  • 2013 Night Sessions

With Colin Towns

  • 1993 Mask Orchestra (The Jazz Label)
  • 1997 Bolt from the Blue (Provocateur)

With Miroslav Vitous

With Mike Westbrook

  • 1967 Celebration (Deram)
  • 1968 Release (Deram)
  • 1969 Marching Song Vol. 1 (Deram)
  • 1969 Marching Song Vol. 2 (Deram)
  • 1975 Citadel/Room 315 (RCA)
  • 2018 The Night at the Old Place (Cadillac)

With others

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 383. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b c d "John Surman Biography". Musicolog.com.
  3. ^ Conrad, Thomas (6 September 2005). "John Surman:Listen and Trustl". All About Jazz. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. ^ Kelman, John (30 May 2005). "CD/LP Review: Way Back Whenl". All About Jazz. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  5. ^ Cotterrell, Roger. ‘John Surman: Perpetual Motion’ Jazz Forum 76 (March 1982), p. 25-29.
  6. ^ Chinen, Nate (2 October 2015). "Review: Karin Krog, a Norwegian Star, Plays at Joe's Pub". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  7. ^ https://www.bright-thoughts.co.uk/hoarded-dreams.html Hoarded Dreams documentary website
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Media related to John Surman at Wikimedia Commons

Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Jazz Spellemannprisen
1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Recipient of the Jazz Spellemannprisen
2013 		Succeeded by
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