Brewster's Rooster

John Surman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 4, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ECM Records
• ASIN: B0025T65K8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,875 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR, 2009, July 20, 2010

By 

Steve Wyzard (Lomita, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brewster's Rooster (Audio CD)

While I certainly haven't heard absolutely every jazz album released in 2009, all competitors will be very hard pressed to match the beautiful virtuosity of Brewster's Rooster. This is John Surman's first straight-ahead album in some time, and the all-star support should be enough to motivate any jazz listener to buy it instantly. Drummer Jack DeJohnette has collaborated with Surman on numerous occasions, dating back to the 1960s. Guitarist John Abercrombie had Surman guest on his 1993 November album, and both were heard on Barre Phillips' 1976 Mountainscapes. Brewster's Rooster is the first ECM recording for New York double-bassist Drew Gress, who has also played in Abercrombie's band. While the usual naysayers will grumble about the ages of the players or that the music is not "intense" enough, this album will undoubtably be among the best ECM releases of this decade.

Surman plays the soprano sax on only two of the nine tracks, the leisurely opener "Slanted Sky" (which begins with a nice solo from Gress), and the album's longest track, "Counter Measures". While it would have been great to hear more of Surman's thoughtful, airy soprano tone, his unparalleled work on the baritone sax is featured on the rest of the album. The busy "Hilltop Dancer" has Surman and Abercrombie doubling the melody line. The slow grooving "No Finesse" also opens with a Gress solo, and Surman demonstrates that "delicate" and "baritone" really do go together. "Kickback" lays to rest any misunderstandings that this might be a "smooth jazz" set: after a fluid Abercrombie solo, the fiery center section is a wild duet between DeJohnette and Surman. "Chelsea Bridge" is this album's ballad, while "Haywain" is a feather-ruffling free piece. The title track is driven by a tricky Gress bass line, and Surman and Abercrombie once again double the melody line. The album closes with the unbridled joy of "Going for a Burton", and there can be no doubt that everyone involved had great fun throughout the recording sessions. All the players are still at the top of their games, with the added wisdom of experience and interplay.

If you are looking for a point of comparison (and I'm talking about moods, textures, and atmosphere, NOT style), two similar albums would be Charles Lloyd's The Water is Wide (2000, also featuring Abercrombie) and Mick Goodrick's In Pas(s)ing (1978, also featuring Surman and DeJohnette). Jazz is alive and well and thriving, and Brewster's Rooster is the proof positive. Only a true cynic or backward-focused conservative would not be won over by this album.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SURMAN CONTINUES TO MATURE-SOME OF HIS BEST PLAYING YET, August 15, 2009

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brewster's Rooster (Audio CD)

One disc 64 minutes approximately. The sound is the usual high standards of the ECM label. Each instrument is clean and individual sounding. This particular release has an agreeable warmth to the sound which only helps with the overall feel of this music.

John Surman's credentials go way back,all the way to the sixties SOFT MACHINE era. His playing has only gotten better over the years. The sound of his horns has a very agreeable "human" tone and nuance found in players who have both played a long time,and have actively progressed in their art. While Surman has retained his own sound on his horns,his way of approaching music has matured to a very high level of craftsmanship. From his wonderful playing on his album "Way Back When" in 1969,to the great "Tales of the Algonquin" from 1971,on through his other releases,this is his most mature,best playing yet.

The musicians who accompany Surman on this release are consistently on the same level of playing ability,either on their own,or compositions by others. Besides Surman on baritone and soprano saxes,the great John Abercrombie is on guitar,Drew Gress on double-bass,and the well known jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette.

Seven of the nine tracks are Surman compositions,and all the tracks flow together into a very pleasing whole. Each musician gets time to step forward on his respective instrument,but it's the close interplay of this quartet that elevates this release above other recent releases. It's very apparent that this group is listening to each other-the interplay seems seamless. This is a pleasing combination of straight ahead jazz with a touch of modernism in the arrangements. One thing this release has going for it is that the music doesn't jump out at the listener,it's very subtle,and requires active listener participation in order to appreciate the nuances in the music. There is a steady undercurrent in this music that drives the music forward. Combined with the quiet yet steady,thoughtful playing of each musician,this only gets better on repeated listenings.

This is post modern jazz at it's finest. However,don't let that fool you into thinking this is just another cerebral jazz release from a label known for that. This is accessible to anyone who likes jazz/horn quartets, played by four musicians who are at the top on their respective instruments. These tracks were recorded in 2007 and are only now being released. It's a shame that someone of Surman's credentials is not more well known-he doesn't deserve to be relatively unknown in the jazz world. Jazz of this caliber shouldn't have to wait so long to be heard.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars surman redux or is he finally letting his true self out..., August 13, 2009

By 

Eric T. (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Brewster's Rooster (Audio CD)

at last john surman sounds like he's having fun! all involved, abercrombie, dejohnette and gress, are in my opinion, at peak form. a thoroughly swingin', jammin' and at times soothing album. worth the investment!