John Surman
b. John Douglas Surman, 30 August 1944, Tavistock, Devon, England. Surman, a remarkable player on soprano and baritone saxophones, bass clarinet, bamboo flutes and sometimes tenor saxophone and synthesizers. He was a member of the Jazz Workshop at Plymouth Arts Centre with Mike Westbrook whilst still at school, and came to London with Westbrook's band in 1962. He studied at London College of Music (1962-65) and London University Institute of Education (1966). By the time he ceased to be a regular member of Westbrook's band in 1968 he was also working in Ronnie Scott's nine-piece outfit (the Band) with Humphrey Lyttelton and had twice been voted the world's best baritone saxophone player by Melody Makerreaders as well as top instrumentalist at the 1968 Montreux International Jazz Festival. Since then various of his albums have collected awards from all over the world. From 1968-69 he led a group, varying from a quartet to an octet, centering round Mike Osborne, Harry Miller and Alan Jackson. During the '60s and '70s he also played with Alexis Korner's New Church, Mike Gibbs, Graham Collier, Chris McGregor, Dave Holland, John McLaughlin (on the guitarist's acclaimed EXTRAPOLATION), John Warren and Harry Beckett. Owing to lack of work in the UK, he emigrated to Europe where he formed the Trio with Barre Phillips and Stu Martin. Surman next worked with Terje Rypdal ( MORNING GLORY), before the Trio briefly reformed, augmented by Albert Mangelsdorff to become MUMPS. At this time he first met Jack DeJohnette with whom he was to work regularly in the '80s and '90s. In 1973 he formed another highly impressive and influential trio, SOS, with Osborne and Alan Skidmore. He began experimenting with electronics during this period, a facet of his work expored in depth on his albums of the late '70s and '80s. He formed duos with Stan Tracey and Karin Krog, in 1978 (the latter becoming a regular musical associate), and from 1979-82 worked with Miroslav Vitous. In 1981, Surman formed the Brass Project, and during the '80s he was a member of Gil Evans' British band and later of his New York band. He also worked with Paul Bley and Bill Frisell and, in 1986, toured with Elvin Jones, Holland and Mangelsdorff. A powerful and resourceful improviser, Surman also composes for all sizes of jazz groups, as well as writing pieces for choirs and for dance companies, notably the Carolyn Carlson Dance Theatre at the Paris Opera, with whom he worked from 1974-79.