John Surman - A Biography Of The Rev. Absalom Dawe (1995)

John Surman - A Biography Of The Rev. Absalom Dawe (1995)

Surman schuf ein Gemälde von großer Intensität, in dem sich ländliche Idylle (First Light) und die Dialoge eines frommen Ego mit sich selbst (’Twas But Piety) zu einem äußerst sinnlichen Ganzen verdichten. Wahrlich meisterlich, wie Surman die Technik der rhythmischen Brechungen zu nutzen weiß und (...) gerade bei einem Thema wie dem vom Druiden (Druid’s Circle) mit zwei Blasinstrumenten auskommt, wo New-Age-Jünger in der Regel zu synthetischen Orgasmen neigen. Wann und wo haben Naturschauspiel und Gottesdienst zuletzt so eng zusammengelegen wie hier? – Hans-Friedrich Böttcher (Frankfurter Rundschau)

John Surman is an artist with an amazing range and depth of style, from contemporary classical to jazz to electronic music. In few places is this more evident than on A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, on which Surman acts as a sort of one-man wind chamber ensemble, playing bass saxophone (his signature instrument) as well as soprano sax, alto and bass clarinets, and keyboards. The electronic elements are few and unobtrusive, and the keyboard's bright tones are a good match for the fluid, breathy sounds of the wind instruments. The music itself is nearly always ethereal and atmospheric, without journeying into the territory of askeletal new age softness. Instead, the execution seems precise and intentional; each instrument was recorded separately and then mixed as individual units into the whole, giving Surman additional opportunities for crispness of sound. The spare waves of music occasionally part to give way to energetic solos, like on "'Twas but Piety" where ribbons of clarinet and funereal organ-esque sounds are bookends for passionate saxophone sections. Elements of modern composition, jazz, and European folk can be heard throughout and the mood is one of reflection and wintry quiet. Overall, this is one of Surman's most daring and yet most successful projects to date. – Stacia Proefrock (AMG)

John Surman - Clarinet (Bass), Keyboards, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Soprano), Clarinet (Alto)

Tracks:
1. First Light - 2:45
2. Countless Journeys - 7:34
3. A Monastic Calling - 5:55
4. Druid's Circle - 2:46
5. 'Twas But Piety - 7:23
6. Three Aspects - 2:53
7. The Long Narrow Road - 2:51
8. Wayfarer - 9:31
9. The Far Corners - 6:37
10. An Image - 1:25

• Exact Audio Copy (Secure mode)
• Monkey's Audio 3.97 / Normal compression
• Disc image + cue sheet
• Cover scans
• 197 MB

***ed2k***

Gruß
Doc