How Many Clouds Can You See?

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How Many Clouds Can You See?
John Surman How Many Clouds Can You See.jpg
Studio album by
John Surman
Released1970
GenreJazz
Length45:52
LabelDeram
ProducerPeter Eden
John Surman chronology
John Surman
(1969) 		How Many Clouds Can You See?
(1970) 		Live in Altena
(1970)

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
SourceRating
Allmusic4.5/5 stars[1]
All About Jazz4.5/5 stars[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings3.5/4 stars[3]

Allmusic awards the album 4 and a half 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[]

  1. "Galata Bridge"
  2. "Caractacus"
  3. "Premonition" (John Warren)

Side two[]

  1. "Event"
    1. "Gathering"
    2. "Ritual"
    3. "Circle Dance"
  2. "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. ^ Jump up to: a b Ankeny, Jason. "How Many Clouds Can You See? - John Surman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Kelman, John (21 February 2007). "John Surman: How Many Clouds Can You See?". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  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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