Twists Straight Ahead: John Surman

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ECM RECORDS is making a big deal out of saxophonist John Surman's newest disc, "Brewster's Rooster." Surman finds that funny.

While it does lean closer to conventional modern jazz than the extended compositions he's best known for, the Britain-born musician points out that he never really abandoned that style.

"I don't know if [ECM] has forgotten those albums that I did with [bassist and composer] Miroslav Vitous' quartet and the stuff I did with [pianist] Paul Bley," he says.

With a dream-team quartet of drummer Jack DeJohnette, guitarist John Abercrombie, and bassist and D.C. native Drew Gress on board for the disc, "Brewster's Rooster" displays Surman's arid tone and sleek melodic improvisations, and the highly emphatic rhythm section. Except for two tracks, Surman wrote all the material with this quartet in mind.

"It was more the case of me sitting down and pulling some music together that I thought would be open and not pretend that this was a real tight working group," Surman says.

Surman's weekend stint at Blues Alley marks a long-awaited return. The last time he played here was in the early '80s.

"I'm arriving just in time," Surman jokes. "Otherwise, they would have had to bring me out in a wheelchair if Washington, D.C., waited any longer."

» Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave.; through Sat., Aug. 22, 8 & 10 p.m., $35; 202-337-4141.

Written by Express contributor John Murph
Photo courtesy Robert Lewis