John Surman - Ringing Out
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Partly a recollection of fondly recalled childhood moments sitting on a boat listening to softly tolling church bells and conjuring melodies in his head, and partly a solo exploration of considerable scope and compositional texture, John Surman’s latest album is a very personal statement.
In its intimacy and evocative feel it says so much about the uniqueness of Surman as a consummate performer and composer. Interview: Duncan Heining.
With his new CD Saltash Bells, saxophonist John Surman returns to the solo format he pioneered 40 years ago with Westering Home. A series of five albums on ECM followed that first foray, beginning in 1979 with Upon Reflection and continuing until 1994 with A Biography Of The Rev. Absalom Dawe.
Saltash Bells marks a very welcome return to that distinctive approach. It is simply a gorgeous record – subtle, warm and filled with something that reaches beyond its 10 tunes to something both personal and more widely shared. It resonates with a sensibility that is fundamentally ethical in kind and hints, perhaps, at other ways of being.
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #164 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD...