Another sky

Description

Since the mid-1960s and the start of his career, British composer and saxophonist John Surman has been regarded as a leading jazzman. He has collaborated with artists such as John McLaughlin, Paul Bley, Bill Frisell, Ronnie Scott, Paul Motian and Jack DeJohnette. “Another Sky” - one hour of dynamic, energetic music - is a commissioned work written for the Bergen Big Band, originally intended for the concert given in Parma, Italy in 2011, with the composer as the featured saxophone soloist. The Bergen Big Band (BBB) is one of Norway’s largest ensembles, and it was formed in 1991 to succeed the Bergen Band. The BBB orchestra has collaborated notably with Phil Woods, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Henderson, The Core, Maria Schneider, Diana Krall, Andy Sheppard, Gianluigi Trovesi, Mathias Eick, Dino Saluzzi... Their CD “Crime Scène”, another commissioned work by Terje Rypdal, was released by ECM in 2009. A long-standing collaboration links John Surman and the BBB: Surman had taken part in their first album “Seagull”, recorded with Karin Krog and nominated for the “Spellemannprisen” (the equivalent of the Grammy Awards) in Norway. “John Surman is like a godfather to us,” explains saxophonist Olav Dale, leader of the BBB. “He’s a fantastic guy. By treating us as equals, he had an enormous impact on the work of the BBB and really appreciated this collaboration. And then of course, when they work with Mr. Surman, the musicians can only give it their all.” John Surman also invited his friend John Warren to take part in this project; Warren therefore wrote several arrangements and co-produced the album. “Another Sky”, released on Grappa in Norway in August 2014, was performed in many concerts presenting the work in its entirety: at the Haugesund International Jazz Festival, the Oslo Jazz Festival, the Bergen Jazz Forum with singer Karin Krog as special guest, and finally at the concert celebrating John Surman’s 70th birthday at the London Jazz Festival.