After ECM recordings with organ (“Rain on the Window”), strings (“The Spaces In Between”), brass ensemble (“Free and Equal”), choir (“Proverbs and Songs”), and early music experiments with the Dowland Project (“Romaria”). John Surman offers an album unequivocally jazz in its orientation. Soulful ballads, hard-driving pieces and fiery improvisations are all to be found here, and Surman is in best creative form on baritone and soprano saxophones. Both Surman and guitarist Abercrombie have long musical relationships with powerhouse drummer DeJohnette, and all three are in accord at a high level. A strong showing, too, for bassist Drew Gress in his ECM debut. Music is all by Surman, apart from “Slanted Sky” by old comrade John Warren, and the timeless “Chelsea Bridge” of Billy Strayhorn.
Tracklist:
1 Slanted Sky 6:33
2 Hilltop Dancer 7:26
3 No Finesse 6:51
4 Kickback 7:24
5 Chelsea Bridge 5:48
6 Haywain 6:18
7 Counter Measures 10:43
8 Brewster's Rooster 6:36
9 Going For A Burton 6:47
Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – John Surman
Double Bass – Drew Gress
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Guitar – John Abercrombie
BACKGROUND
After many adventures through the genres, a jazz album. The wide range of John Surman’s musical interests has, in the last several years seen him in contexts ranging from early music with John Potter’s Dowland Project to Arab modes with Anouar Brahem, while his own albums have included encounters with church organ (“Rain on the Window”), strings (“The Spaces in Between”), classical brass ensemble (“Free and Equal”), and choir (“Proverbs and Songs”). “Brewster’s Rooster”, however, is in another tradition. For long-time Surman listeners it will likely bring to mind earlier meetings with his extraordinarily mobile baritone and fleet soprano – on his own “Stranger Than Fiction” or “Adventure Playground” albums, perhaps, or on Mick Goodrick’s “In Pas(s)ing” (a disc that also featured Jack DeJohnette’s drums), or with The Trio on Barre Phillips’s “Mountainscapes” (which also included a guest role for John Abercrombie).
“Brewster’s Rooster” draws upon much shared musical experience. Abercrombie and DeJohnette have also played together often since the early 70s, the former a member of several of the latter’s bands. Guitarist and drummer also played on sessions for ECM artists from Collin Walcott to Kenny Wheeler, and comprised two-thirds of the powerful Gateway trio.
John Surman and Jack DeJohnette, meanwhile, have collaborated intermittently for more than 40 years, first meeting at a jam session at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in 1968 when Jack was in London with Bill Evans. In 1974 Surman spent six months living in Woodstock, New York, and in this period played live with DeJohnette’s Directions group, whose line-up included Abercrombie. In 1981 Surman and DeJohnette began playing in duo, and recorded “The Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon” for ECM; a second duo album, the concert recording “Invisible Nature” was issued 20 years later. In recent seasons Surman has toured with Jack’s Ripple Effect band (album on DeJohnette’s Golden Beams label), and in concert this has also offered opportunities for some unbridled blowing.
For “Brewster’s Rooster”, the trio of old friends – Surman, DeJohnette, Abercrombie - is joined by bassist Drew Gress. Making his ECM debut here, Gress is a vastly-experienced player whose early work included gigs with Buddy Hackett, Zoot Sims and Cab Calloway. Now a bandleader in his own right, he has also been heard frequently in bands led by Tim Berne, Fred Hersch, Ravi Coltrane, Tony Malaby, Mat Maneri and others. Later this year he will tour Europe with John Abercrombie’s quartet.
Recorded in New York’s Avatar Studio in September 2007, “Brewster’s Rooster” features a broad span of material - soulful ballads, hard-driving uptempo tunes and fiery improvisations are all to be found here. Repertoire includes new tunes by Surman, plus Billy Strayhorn’s wistful “Chelsea Bridge” and “Slanting Sky” by John Warren, once co-leader of the Brass Project with Surman (see ECM 1478).
