ECM

JOHN SURMAN / HOWARD MOODY 
Rain on the Window

Cat No. ECM 1715540      Barcode: 602517155404

Release date: 28 April 2008 

John Surman: baritone and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet;
Howard Moody: organ

Points:

• Very special project by John Surman, one of ECM’s most admired musicians: an album of intimate duets that moves the music forward while also speaking of roots
• Unusual instrumental combination: Surman’s reeds heard with church organ
• Recorded in superb acoustics of Oslo’s Ullern Church
• Material features new compositions by both John Surman and Howard Moody, plus improvisations, folk songs and spirituals: emphasis above all on melody
• First ECM disc to feature Moody as instrumentalist: his previous appearance, on Surman’s Proverbs and Songs (recorded 1996), was as choral conductor
• Album launch concerts in Southampton (24 April) and at Coventry Jazz Festival (24 May)

Music & Artist Background: 

Rain on the Window, recorded in Oslo where John Surman now lives, continues the saxophonist’s unique artistic path on ECM, with Howard Moody as new musical partner. Moody conducted Surman’s Mercury Prize-nominated Proverbs and Songs (537 7992) and in live concerts played the organ when John Taylor was unavailable. His cv ranges from the English Baroque Soloists under John Eliot Gardiner to pop sessions with Marianne Faithfull and Marc Almond, writing a musical with poet Ian McMillan and a Requiem with flamenco guitarist Paco Peña, and orchestrating Surman’s Road to St Ives. In much of his work he chips away at the artificial barriers separating styles and audiences - making him a natural partner for Surman. The music is a mixture of original compositions, improvisations and traditional folk songs. Melody and lyricism – hallmarks of all Surman’s work – are celebrated in each of the featured pieces. “A Spring Wedding” was written to celebrate the wedding of John’s son Ben Surman and Minya DeJohnette, daughter of Jack DeJohnette, in 2004; “Dancing in the Loft” and “Dark Reeds” are free improvisations; “O Waly Waly” is a folk song originally collected by Cecil Sharp in Somerset; “I'm Troubled in Mind” first appeared in a collection of Negro Spirituals in 1872.

As a footnote: before he ever played any jazz John Surman sang in choirs and as a classical soloist – and his very first recording, as a boy soprano, was with organ accompaniment. Photos of the original shellac discs are included in the CD booklet, along with session photos and a performer’s note.

Surman and Moody launch the album with concerts at the Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton (24 April) and at Coventry Jazz Festival (24 May) and other appearances are being planned.

Tracks:

(1) Circum #1  3.58

(2) Stained Glass 3.49

(3) The Old Dutch 3.30

(4) Dancing In The Loft 1.53 *

(5) Step Lively! 3.06

(6) Stone Ground 4.19

(7) Tierce 2.59

(8) Circum #2  2.03

(9) Rain On The Window 4.06

(10) Dark Reeds 2.50

(11) O Waly Waly 2.43 *

(12) A Spring Wedding 3.07 *

(13) I'm Troubled In Mind 2.47 *

(14) On The Go 3.59

(15) Pax Vobiscum 4.12

Recommended listening *

Total time: 49.29