Fjorårets album med John Surman og Bergen Big Band-album får både skryt i fransk presse og spilletid i fransk radio. Her er noen av anmeldelsene vi har fått hånd om.
Another Sky (Grappa) ble utgitt i Frankrike i mars 2015. I Norge ble det utgitt i august, 2014.
Le Monde (april 2015)
The new phonographic project of the english saxophone player John Surman and of the Bergen Big Band, a norwegian big band of 20 musicians, starts with a few notes on guitar before the evocative power of the band settles down. Surman has written refined compositions, not specifically to highlight himself but more for the orchestra to find a nice energy in the melodies. with arrangements of the saxophonist John Warren, a partner since the 70’s, we are globally in an universe avoiding tackiness, avoiding the overflow in favor of a more impressionist intention, even when music takes off in a more energetic manner ( Carpet Ride, Green Wood). A musical pleasure from beginning to end, classic and modern altogether.
Le Jazz (april 2015)
(english: Together with his partner John Warren, John Surman is renewing here his collaboration with the Bergen Big Band, a large and prestigious norwegian ensemble of twenty musicians. Let’s say it right away: very few recordings are proposing such high quality of compositions and arrangements. The parts of the six original compositions are standing at the level of the best accomplishments of Gil Evans, radiating a delicate and airy poetry and the arrangement of Ruby My Dear, the famous Thelonious Monk theme given here is now a reference. Each one of John Surman intervention in the midst of this orchestral splendor is astounding, either on the soprano or on the tenor saxophone. We can understand what this music provoked at the London Jazz Festival and what she should arouse for anybody who is a music lover.)
Blog de Choc (mars 2015)
Parfois seul maître d’œuvre de ses disques (six enregistrements en solo pour ECM entre 1979 et 2009), John Surman aime aussi élargir sa musique au grand orchestre. Le Bergen Big Band lui en donne une nouvelle fois l’occasion. Créé en 1991, cette formation norvégienne a souvent invité des jazzmen étrangers à la rejoindre. En 2005, le saxophoniste enregistra un album avec elle, la chanteuse Karin Krogg participant à la séance. Remarqué par la presse, nominé aux « Spellemannprisen », l’équivalent de nos Victoires de la Musique, “Seagull” compte parmi les grandes réussites du BBB.
Joué pour la première fois à Parme en 2011, “Another Sky”, une autre œuvre de commande, fut donné lors de nombreux concerts et festivals. Outre Surman (saxophones baryton et soprano), il réunit les vingt musiciens expérimentés du Bergen Big Band autour de son leader, le saxophoniste / flûtiste Olav Dale, décédé le 10 octobre 2014, un an après l’enregistrement de ce disque. Surman et John Warren, un vieux complice, en ont signé les arrangements. Warren apporte celui de Ruby My Dear, une composition de Thelonious Monk que Surman interprète au baryton. On lui doit aussi certains passages de Spending My Time. Ivar Kolve assure le solo de vibraphone, la partition, toujours confiée au baryton, déployant de splendides couleurs orchestrales.
Vibraphone, guitare et contrebasse entremêlant leurs notes rêveuses, le grave des trombones annonçant l’entrée de l’orchestre au sein duquel se détache la trompette de Martin Winter, Another Sky sonne comme une partition de Gil Evans, de nombreux instruments et plus particulièrement la section d’anches étant mis à contribution. C’est dans un avion, en approche d’Oslo par le sud-ouest que Surman eut l’idée de South-Western Approaches, composition dévolue à plusieurs solistes. La guitare d’Ole Thomsen se distingue dans Carpet Ride, une pièce initialement écrite pour le quartette du trompettiste Henry Lowther. Surman s’empare de ses motifs hispaniques pour l’introduire, la développer au soprano.
De sa musique émerge de nombreuses réminiscences de thèmes folkloriques. Confié aux deux ténors du BBB, Scare’Em Up qui conclut l’album est une vieille chanson anglaise. Surman est originaire du Devon et la lecture des romans de Thomas Hardy, originaire du Dorset, situé comme le Devon au sud-ouest de l’Angleterre, lui a souvent inspiré des compositions. Green Wood est un peu le pendant de Hilltop Dancer, un des thèmes de “Brewster’s Rooster”, un des albums ECM du saxophoniste. Olav Dale à l’alto et Dag Arnesen au piano évoquent lointainement ces danses villageoises dont Hardy parle souvent dans ses livres, dans “Under the Greenwood Tree” (“Sous la verte feuillée”) écrit en 1872. Grâce au talent d’un big band norvégien, la verte campagne anglaise se couvre de notes bleues, se met à l’heure du jazz moderne. Qui pouvait imaginer chose pareille?
(english: Sometimes John Surman is the only architect for his own recordings (6 solo recordings for ECM between 1979 and 2009) and he likes to widen the scope of his music with a large ensemble. The Bergen Big Band gives him once again this opportunity. Created in 1991, this norwegian ensemble has often invited foreign jazzmen. In 2005, the saxophonist had already recorded with this ensemble, with the addition of the singer Karin Krogg. Enhanced by the press and nominated to the Spellemannprisen (i/e our french Victoires de la Musique) Seagull counts amongst the successes of the BBB.
As another command performed for the first time in Parma in 2011,Another Sky, was given at numerous concerts and festivals. Besides Surman ( baritone and soprano saxophones), it features the 20 experienced musicians of the BBB under the leadership of saxophonist/flutist Olav Dale, who died on October 2014, one year after this recording. Surman and John Warren, an old time partner, have signed the arrangements. Warren signed the ones of Ruby My Dear of T.Monk played by Surman on the baritone. He is also accountable for some parts of Spending My Time. Ivar Kolve is assuring the vibraphone solo, the part being still given to the baritone who is developing magnificent orchestral colors.
Vibraphone, guitar and basse are mixing their dreamy notes, the low note of the trombone announcing the arrival of the orchestra with the trumpet of Martin Winter standing out, Another Sky sounds like a piece of Gil Evans, lots of instruments and specifically the reeds being involved. It’s while approaching the south-west of Oslo by plane that Surman got the idea of South-Western Approaches, a composition dedicated to several soloists. The guitar of Ole Thomsen is standing out in Carpet Ride, a piece originally written for the quartet of trumpet player Henry Lowther. Surman is using its spanish motives to introduce the piece and he develops it on the soprano.
Numerous memories of traditional tunes are emerging from this music.
Given to the care of the two tenors of the BBB, Scare ‘Em Up which is concluding the record is an old english song. Surman is coming from Devon and he has been reading the novels of Thomas Hardy, originating from Dorset which is located like Devon in the south-west part of England, and often a source of inspiration for him. Green Wood is a bit like the matching part of Hilltop Dancer, a theme from Brewster’s Rooster on one of John Surman’ ECM recordings. Olav Dale on the alto and Dag Arnesen on the piano are from a distance evoking these village dances often mentioned by Hardy in his books, in Under the Greenwood Tree ( Sous la Verte Feuillée – in french )written in 1872. Thanks to the talent of a norwegian big band, the green english countryside is getting covered of blue notes, and is getting into modern jazz. Who could imagine such a thing?)
Culture Jazz (mars 2015)
Un grand bond dans le temps! Ce mois-ci paraissent le second enregistrement de John Surman, avec Mike Osborne en 1966 ( « Dawn », lire ici !) et « Another Sky » publié en 2014 qui nous arrive maintenant. John Surman (né en 1944) connaît bien le Bergen Big Band et sait en tirer le meilleur pour jouer ses compositions (et un magnifique salut à Thelonious Monk). Il a sollicité à nouveau son ami canadien John Warren, arrangeur avec il avait concocté, entre autres, un « Brass Project » mémorable au tout début des années 90 (ECM). Une musique poétique, lumineuse, tonique, propice aux envolées solistes de haute tenue sur laquelle planent les anches de Monsieur Surman. Envolons-nous… sur son tapis volant…
(english: A big leap in time! This month are published the second John Surman’ recording with Mike Osborne in 1966 (Dawn) and Another Sky, published in 2014, is now arriving to us. John Surman (born in 1944) knows well the Bergen Big Band and how to get the best out of it to play his compositions ( and a wonderful tribute to Thelonious Monk). He has again appealed to his canadian friend John Warren, an arranger with whom amongst others he had concocted a memorable «Brass Project» at the very beginning of the 90’s on ECM. A poetic music, luminous, tonic, suitable to some solo flights of high quality over which Mr Surman ‘reeds are gliding. Let’s take off… on his magic carpet….)
Liberation / Jazz News (mars 2015)
Les chevauchées en solo homériques du compositeur et saxophoniste (et clarinettiste) John Surman, né en 1944, ont sillonné le paysage européen des années 1970. L’œuvre en grande formation mérite une attention identique. L’Anglais collaborait déjà avec son épouse, la vocaliste Karin Krog, sur Seagull, premier disque du Big Band de Bergen.Voici une autre commande de ce dernier, Another Sky, pour un concert de 2011 à Parme. Les excursions lyriques du virtuose traversent l’azur comme un aigle royal, soulevant les cœurs. Les envolées catalysent les solistes de l’orchestre, qui se surpassent. On applaudit en bonus « Ruby My Dear » de Thelonious Monk. Le programme a déjà régalé plusieurs festivals européens.Vivement que la France en profite !
BRUNO PFEIFFER
(english: The homeric rides of the solo of he english composer and saxophone / clarinet player John Surman, born in 1944, have ran through the european landscapes of the 70’s. His work with a large orchestra deserve the same attention. The outstanding improvisor had already a collaboration with his wife, the vocalist Karin Krog, on Seagull the first CD of Bergen Big Band. This is another command-work from the BBB, for a concert given in Parma in 2011. The lyrical rides of the virtuoso are flying across the sky-blue like the ones of a golden eagle, arousing our emotions. These flights are acting as a catalyst for the orchestra’s soloists. they surpass themselves. We applause the Monk bonus Ruby my Dear . The program has already regaled some european festivals. Would be great if France could enjoy the treat too!)
