John Surman Rarum XIII: Selected Recordings CD

Recorded in Norway, Germany and England between 1976 and 1999. Includes liner notes by John Surman.

Like guitarist Terje Rypdal, with whom he has collaborated, British saxophonist, bandleader, and composer John Surman has had a career on the ECM label that has covered the terrain of new classical music from chamber to orchestral, jazz of the vanguard and groove varieties, new music, and even folk music. This personal selection of his offerings from the label from the years 1976-1999 gives listeners the opportunity to be stunned by his versatility and commitment, and the incredible depth he possesses in each of his chosen fields of inquiry, but given the sheer breadth of his oeuvre, it is impossible on a single disc to give an accurate representation. As a result, what is here is nothing short of stellar. Surman's chosen ramble over the course of his career is in aesthetic rather than chronological order, so listeners have "Druid's Castle" from the 1994 set A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, a piece for solo soprano and baritone saxophones, kicking it off. Surprisingly, Surman offers "Number Six" from a Miroslav Vitous-led date in 1982 to follow, which is dovetailed with "Portrait of a Romantic," featuring another solo of bass clarinet, recorder, and synthesizer that feels informed by Delius. Thankfully, "The Returning Exile" from The Brass Project is included here, as is a brilliant piece from Adventure Playground in 1991 with sidemen Tony Oxley, Paul Bley, and Gary Peacock. But it is on the four or so solo pieces that the sheer mastery of Surman's command becomes evident, and for these listeners should be grateful. ~ Thom Jurek

Stuart Nicholson wrote in the BBC Music magazine of the ":rarum" series: "... selected by the artists themselves, this series is of enormous importance in revealing the breadth of each artist's work, as much for the converted as the unconverted looking for a window into the remarkable ECM catalogue".

Personnel: John Surman (harp, recorder, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, keyboards, synthesizer); John Abercrombie, Terje Rypdal (guitar); Keith Pascoe, Rita Manning (violin); Bill Hawkes (viola); Nick Cooper (cello); Steve Waterman, Henry Lowther, Stuart Brooks (trumpet); Malcolm Griffiths, Chris Pyne (trombone); David Stewart , Richard Edwards (bass trombone); Vigleik Storaas, Kenny Kirkland, Paul Bley (piano); Gary Peacock, Marc Johnson's Bass Desires , Miroslav Vitous, Barre Phillips, Chris Laurence (double bass); Jack DeJohnette, John Marshall , Jon Christensen, Peter Erskine, Stu Martin, Tony Oxley (drums).

Recording information: London, England (03/1976-01/1999); Ludwigsburg, Germany (03/1976-01/1999); Oslo, Norway (03/1976-01/1999).

Personnel: John Surman (soprano & baritone saxophones, bass clarinet, recorder, keyboards, synthesizer); John Warren (conductor); Henry Lowther, Stephen Waterman, Stuart Brooks (trumpet); Malcolm Griffiths, Chris Pyne (trombone); David Stewart, Richard Edwards (bass trombone); Kenny Kirkland, Paul Bley, Vigleik Storaas (piano); John Abercrombie, Terje Rypdal (guitar); Miroslav Vitous, Marc Johnson, Chris Laurence, Barre Phillips, Gary Peacock (acoustic bass); Jon Christensen, Peter Erskine, John Marshall, Jack DeJohnette, Stu Martin, Tony Oxley (drums).

Trans4Mation: Rita Manning, Keith Pascoe (violin); Bill Hawkes (viola); Nick Cooper (cello).