John Surman: Flashpoint: NDR Jazz Workshop April '69 (CD+DVD)

Stets auf der Suche nach künsterlichen Herausforderungen arbeitete der britische Jazz-Saxophonist John Surman im Rahmen seiner mittlerweile über vierzig Jahre währenden Karriere mit Größen wie Mike Westbrook, John McLaughlin, Albert Mangelsdorff, Miroslav Vitous, Jack Dejohnette, Gil Evans, Terje Rypdal oder John Abercrombie. Mit diesem 1969 im Rahmen der von Michael Naura organisierten Konzertreihe NDR Jazz Workshop aufgenommenen Livemitschnitt der John Surman Bigband erscheint nun endlich ein Tondokument dieser hochkarätig besetzten Formation. Kraftvoll und voller improvisatorischer Virtuosität navigieren die zehn Musiker durch die fünf, zwischen lyrischen Passagen und frei expressiven Ausbrüchen oszillierenden Kompositionen, die Allstar-Bläsersektion (neben Surman) bestehend aus Kenny Wheeler, Alan Skidmore, Ronnie Scott, Mike Osborne, Malcolm Griffiths, Erich Kleinschuster gibt den gruppentechnischen Ton an. Als Bonus gibt es zudem das komplette Konzert als Filmaufzeichnung (Mono, schwarz / weiß) im DVD - Format.

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For nearly 45 years, John Surman has been one of England's best known modern jazz musicians. His career began in the late 60s as both a sideman and a leader with such notable greats as John McLaughlin, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Terje Rypdal, Mike Westbrook, Barre Phillips, Albert Mangelsdorff, Chick Corea and many others. He began working with the ECM label in the late 1970s where he has released a string of fine work that continues to this day. Every period of his career is filled with highlights, which is why Cuneiform is exceedingly proud to release for the first time ever this amazing document of the late 60s 'Brit-jazz' scene.

The NDR Jazz Workshop was a weekly show featuring all manner of jazzmen of the day. The taping of this NDR show was around the same time as Surman was recording his second album as a leader, How Many Clouds Can You See, so this is a unique chance to get an expanded view of his formative work as a leader and also at the early work of his musical compatriots who appear with him here. For this occasion, Surman led a ten-piece ensemble featuring the cream of modern British jazz players: John Surman - soprano and baritone sax, Kenny Wheeler - trumpet and flugelhorn, Alan Skidmore - tenor sax and flute, Ronnie Scott - tenor sax, Mike Osborne - alto sax, Malcolm Griffiths - trombone, Harry Miller - bass and Alan Jackson - drums, as well as two Austrian musicians, Fritz Pauer - piano and Erich Kleinschuster - trombone.

Heard and seen on Flashpoint for the very first time since the original broadcast over 40 years ago are five great peformances, including two excellent Surman compositions that he never recorded elsewhere. High quality audio recordings from these musicians from this period are quite rare and video footage is basically non-existent. Captured in crisp, clear black and white footage and in excellent mono sound, this release is a exeptional and hugely important document that will blow the minds of Brit-jazz fans and will open the ears, eyes and minds of those who don't know the great and distinctive work of these fine musicians!

This is a truly stupendous archival find, with broad appeal to both jazz and early fusion fans. This never before released album was recorded on October 7th, 1969 by John Surman and British jazz superstars. It is a mix between the vibrancy of late 60's uk jazz and spacey early electric jazz / rock ala "In A Silent Way"; listening to this album, you can hear that the fusion explosion is on the cusp of happening. Soprano / baritone saxophonist John Surman is one of the UK's best known jazzmen, having released 8 albums under his own name between 1968 - 1974 for mainstream labels such as Deram and Island. He was a member of John McLaughlin's final UK-based group, recording John's famous first solo album, Extrapolation with him in 1969, six months before recording Way Back When. Since the late 1970's, he has mostly recorded for the ECM label, recording dozens of albums as either the leader or as a sideman.

"In mid-October, 1969, I left the UK to meet up with bassist Barre Phillips and drummer Stu Martin to begin working with them as "The Trio". Before I left however, a few close friends and I held a sort of 'farewell' session in Tangerine Studios in London. On hand were drummer John Marshall, electric pianist John Taylor and Brian Odgers on bass guitar - later Mike Osborne appeared with his alto and joined us. Shortly after I left England, the studios closed down and, although a few test pressings were made, the original tapes got lost in the general confusion. Much to my surprise the masters had survived and were uncovered in 2003...what you are hearing accurately reflects the sound of the sixties...it offers genuine insight into some of the musical directions that were being explored at the end of that swinging decade in the UK." (John Surman) (cuneiformrecords. com)

Rezensionen

,,(…) one of the year‘s most essential reissues." Allaboutjazz