A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe

1995 studio album by John Surman

A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe

Studio album by

John Surman

Released| 1995
Recorded| October 1994 (1994-10)
Genre| Jazz
Length| 49:45
Label| ECM
ECM 1528
Producer| Manfred Eicher
John Surman chronology
| Nordic Quartet
(1994)  | A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe
(1995)  | Proverbs and Songs
(1997)

|
|

A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe is a solo album by English saxophonist John Surman, recorded in October 1994 and released on ECM the following year.[1]

## Reception

[edit]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings included the album in its suggested “core collection” of essential recordings.[2]

The AllMusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated: "John Surman is an artist with an amazing range and depth of style, from contemporary classical to jazz to electronic music. In few places is this more evident than on A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, on which Surman acts as a sort of one-man wind chamber ensemble... Elements of modern composition, jazz, and European folk can be heard throughout and the mood is one of reflection and wintry quiet. Overall, this is one of Surman's most daring and yet most successful projects to date."[3]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings| [2]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by John Surman.

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "First Light"| 2:41
2.| "Countless Journeys"| 7:31
3.| "A Monastic Calling"| 5:53
4.| "Druid's Circle"| 2:44
5.| "'Twas But Piety"| 7:21
6.| "Three Aspects"| 2:50
7.| "The Long Narrow Road"| 2:46
8.| "Wayfarer"| 9:28
9.| "The Far Corners"| 6:34
10.| "An Image"| 1:25
Total length:| 49:45

## Personnel

[edit]

* John Surman – soprano and baritone saxophone, alto and bass clarinets, keyboards

## References

[edit]

1. ^ ECM discography Archived 2012-09-07 at the Wayback Machine accessed October 4, 2011
2. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1365\. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
3. ^ a b Proefrock, S. AllMusic Review accessed October 4, 2011

* v
* t
* e

John Surman

Studio albums|

* John Surman
* How Many Clouds Can You See?
* Way Back When
* Glancing Backwards
* Tales of the Algonquin
* Westering Home
* Upon Reflection
* The Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon
* Such Winters of Memory
* Withholding Pattern
* Private City
* Road to Saint Ives
* Adventure Playground
* The Brass Project
* Stranger than Fiction
* Nordic Quartet
* A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe
* Coruscating
* Rain on the Window
* The Spaces in Between
* Brewster's Rooster
* Saltash Bells
* Songs About This and That
* Invisible Threads

Live albums|

* Proverbs and Songs
* Invisible Nature
* Free and Equal

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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