| A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | October 1994 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 49:45 | |||
| Label | ECM ECM 1528 | |||
| Producer | Manfred Eicher | |||
| John Surman chronology | ||||
| ||||
A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe is a solo album by English saxophonist John Surman, recorded in October 1994 and released on ECM the following year. [1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings included the album in its suggested “core collection” of essential recordings. [2]
The AllMusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated: "John Surman is an artist with an amazing range and depth of style, from contemporary classical to jazz to electronic music. In few places is this more evident than on A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, on which Surman acts as a sort of one-man wind chamber ensemble... Elements of modern composition, jazz, and European folk can be heard throughout and the mood is one of reflection and wintry quiet. Overall, this is one of Surman's most daring and yet most successful projects to date." [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [2] |
All tracks are written by John Surman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "First Light" | 2:41 |
| 2. | "Countless Journeys" | 7:31 |
| 3. | "A Monastic Calling" | 5:53 |
| 4. | "Druid's Circle" | 2:44 |
| 5. | "'Twas But Piety" | 7:21 |
| 6. | "Three Aspects" | 2:50 |
| 7. | "The Long Narrow Road" | 2:46 |
| 8. | "Wayfarer" | 9:28 |
| 9. | "The Far Corners" | 6:34 |
| 10. | "An Image" | 1:25 |
| Total length: | 49:45 | |
John Douglas Surman is an English jazz saxophone, clarinet, and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music. He has composed and performed music for dance performances and film soundtracks.
The Carla Bley Big Band Goes to Church is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in Perugia, Italy as part of the Umbria Jazz Festival and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1996.
Fragments is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in January 1986 and released on ECM October later that year. The quartet features reed player John Surman, guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummer Paul Motian.
In the Evenings out There is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in September 1991 and released on ECM two years later. The quartet features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Tony Oxley and reed player John Surman.
Mountainscapes is an album by American jazz bassist Barre Phillips recorded in March 1976 and released on ECM later that same year. The quartet features reed player John Surman, synthesizer player Dieter Feichtner, and drummer Stu Martin, with a guest appearance from guitarist John Abercrombie on "Mountainscapes VIII".
First Meeting is an album by Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš recorded in May 1979 and released on ECM January the following year. The quartet features reed player John Surman and rhythm section Kenny Kirkland and Jon Christensen.
Upon Reflection is a solo album by English reed player and composer John Surman recorded in May 1979 and released on ECM later that same year.
Journey's End is an album by Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš recorded in July 1982 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features reed player John Surman, pianist John Taylor, and drummer Jon Christensen.
Road to Saint Ives is a solo album by the English saxophonist John Surman, recorded in April 1990 and released on ECM the following year.
Adventure Playground is an album by English saxophonist John Surman recorded in September 1991 and released on ECM the following year. The quartet features rhythm section Paul Bley, Gary Peacock and Tony Oxley.
The Brass Project is an album by English jazz saxophonist John Surman and Canadian conductor and composer John Warren, recorded in April 1992 and released on ECM the following year. Warren's brass nonet consists trumpeters Henry Lowther, Stephen Waterman, and Stuart Brooks, trombonists Malcolm Griffiths and Chris Pyne, bass trombonists David Stewart and Richard Edwards, and rhythm section Chris Laurence and John Marshall.
Stranger than Fiction is an album by the John Surman Quartet recorded in December 1993 and released on ECM October the following year. The quartet features rhythm section John Taylor, Chris Laurence and John Marshall.
Coruscating is an album by English saxophonist John Surman recorded in January 1999 and released by ECM September the following year.
Invisible Nature is a live album by English saxophonist John Surman and American drummer Jack DeJohnette recorded in Tampere and Berlin in November 1999 and released on ECM in 2002.
Free and Equal is a live album by English saxophonist John Surman featuring American drummer Jack DeJohnette and the London Brass recorded in Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in June 2001 and released on ECM in 2003.
From the Green Hill is an album by Polish jazz trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko recorded in August 1998 and released on ECM later that year.
The Spaces in Between is an album by English saxophonist John Surman recorded in February 2006 and released on ECM the following year.
November is an album by American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in November 1992 and released by ECM a year later. The trio features rhythm section Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine with reed player John Surman.
Nordic Quartet is an album by English saxophonist John Surman recorded in 1994 and released on ECM the following. The quartet features singer Karin Krog, guitarist Terje Rypdal and pianist Vigleik Storaas.
Proverbs and Songs is a live album by the English saxophonist John Surman of a suite of choral settings of Old Testament texts. It was recorded at Salisbury Cathedral on June 1, 1996 with the organist John Taylor and released on ECM the following year. It also featured the 75-strong Salisbury Festival Chorus. It was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 1998. Surman performed the suite several times after the 1996 performance.
