How Many Clouds Can You See?

How Many Clouds Can You See?
How Many Clouds Can You See?
Studio album by John Surman
Released	1970
Genre	Jazz
Length	45:52
Label	Deram
Producer	Peter Eden
John Surman chronology

Last updated April 01, 2023

How Many Clouds Can You See? is the second album by English saxophonist John Surman featuring Harry Beckett, Alan Skidmore, Barre Phillips, and Tony Oxley recorded in 1970 and released on the Deram label.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
All About Jazz	^[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	^[3]

Allmusic awards the album 4+1⁄2 stars and its review by Jason Ankeny states: "John Surman's second album remains his most impressive, anticipating the sound and scope of the European free jazz movement that would blossom in the decade to come".^[1] John Kelman in his All About Jazz review states: "While woodwind multi-instrumentalist John Surman's eponymous debut was a strange mixture of everything from free improvisation to calypso, his second date, 1970's How Many Clouds Can You See?, is a much more focused affair. Surman clearly references one of his roots, John Coltrane, albeit on an instrument that the legendary saxophonist never played.^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by John Surman except where noted.

Side one

"Galata Bridge"
"Caractacus"

Side two

"Event"
1. "Gathering"
2. "Ritual"
3. "Circle Dance"
"How Many Clouds Can You See?"

Personnel

Musicians

Mike Osborne – alto saxophone
John Warren – baritone saxophone, flute
John Surman – baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
Barre Phillips, Harry Miller – bass
Alan Jackson, Tony Oxley – drums
Alan Skidmore – tenor saxophone, flute
Chris Pyne, Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
Dave Holdsworth – trumpet
Harold Beckett – trumpet, flugelhorn
John Taylor – piano
George Smith – tuba

Other credits

Bill Price, Dave Grinsted – engineer
Miles Kington – liner notes
David Osborne – photography

References

1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "How Many Clouds Can You See? - John Surman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
1 2 Kelman, John (21 February 2007). "John Surman: How Many Clouds Can You See?". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
↑ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1363. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.

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[allmusic-1] 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "How Many Clouds Can You See? - John Surman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.

[allaboutjazz-2] 1 2 Kelman, John (21 February 2007). "John Surman: How Many Clouds Can You See?". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.

[Penguin-3] Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1363. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.

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