John surman quartet

In his compositions, sax, clarinet and synthesiser player John Douglas Surman cultivates free and modal jazz, often taking his inspiration from traditional folk themes. Over the course of a prolific career spanning some 40 years (he has been recording since the 1960s), Surman, respected as a pioneer in modern jazz, has composed and performed many works specifically for dance productions and soundtracks, as well as working with both big bands and small groups. However, his studio work aside, once he takes the stage, Surman seeks to generate spaces, atmospheres, in which improvisation can flow and where, in his own words, “the music comes alive”.