🇬🇧🎷🎻🎹Multi-Instrumental God: John Surman (1944-present); English saxophonist John Surman is a world-class composer, his large, diverse body of work -- classical, theatrical, and soundtrack -- has extended the boundaries of jazz. He studied clarinet as a child, then tenor, baritone, and soprano saxophones. He began playing jazz at the London College of Music and later studied at the London University Institute of Education. Following an eponymous leader debut in 1969, he recorded Where Fortune Smiles with guitarist John McLaughlin in 1971, and Morning Glory on Island with Terje Rypdal, John Marshall, and John Taylor in 1973. He signed with ECM (on which he has recorded almost exclusively since) for 1979's solo Upon Reflection, overdubbing saxes, clarinet, and synthesizer. Following The Adventures of Simon Simon with drummer Jack DeJohnette and Such Winters of Memory with singer Karin Krog, he kicked off the '90s with the solo Road to Saint Ives. Two wide-ranging quartet dates -- Adventure Playground (1992) and Stranger Than Fiction (1994) -- set the stage for 1997's live Proverbs and Songs, with Surman playing over a church organ and the Salisbury Festival Chorus. 2000's Coruscating and 2007's The Spaces in Between showcased the saxophonist with string groups. 2012's landmark, award-winning Saltash Bells marked a return to solo recording. 2015's Songs About This and That reunited him with Krog. 2018's trio offering Invisible Threads featured Brazilian pianist Nelson Ayers and vibraphonist Rob Waring. Surman and Waring enlisted guitarist Rob Luft and drummer Thomas Strønen for 2024's Words Unspoken in celebration of his 80th birthday. In January 2025, Cuneiform Records released Flashpoints and Undercurrents, a previously unissued full stereo recording by a tentet from 1969. Shark’s Top 10 Albums: 1. A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, 2. Upon Reflection, 3. Coruscating, 4. Road to Saint Ives, 5. Cloud Line Blue, 6. Adventure Playground, 7. Proverbs and Songs, 8. Adventure Playground, 9. Westering Home, 10. Private City. John Surman’s Milestones: 51 albums 487 songs 1.8 days of continuous listening 6 GB of music stored Updated: 30.10.2025